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No WJC Encore: Blackhawks Kevin Korchinski (and Connor Bedard) Should Stay In Chicago
There was little doubt Connor Bedard would stick in the NHL this season after being drafted first overall by the Blackhawks in June. The 18-year-old center enters Sunday's game against St. Louis as the the league's leading rookie scorer with 10 goals and 17 points in 18 contests
Saskatoon native Kevin Korchinski
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Things weren't quite as certain for Kevin Korchinski, the 19-year-old defenseman Chicago drafted seventh overall in 2022.
The smooth-skating Saskatoon, Saskatchewan native could either stick with the Blackhawks, or be returned to his junior team, the WHL Seattle Thunderbirds. Since Korchinski is still a teen, he can't be sent to the AHL Rockford IceHogs if he isn't ready for the NHL.
Despite some rookie mistakes, Korchinski is ready.
Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson made it clear the rangy D-man belongs in Chicago. He shouldn't consider playing again for Canada's IIHF World Junior Championship team.
Bedard and Korchinski still eligible for WJC, but...
Bedard and Korchinski are eligible again for the upcoming WJC. Both are now integral parts of the Blackhawks.
"My inclination would be for (Korchinski) to stay here," Davidson said. "Out of respect, I think you just consider everything... but honestly it really hasn't crossed my mind all that much.
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"I think he's been playing really well," Davidson added. "The standard ups-and-downs for any young player. They'll make mistakes, but that's OK. You learn from your mistakes and that's why we have a coaching staff, to help them work through that." See video.
The 2023 24 WJC runs from Dec. 26, 2023 to Jan. 5, 2024 in in Gothenburg (Göteborg), Sweden. Bedard, Korchinski and three other Blackhawks prospects — Ethan Del Mastro, Nolan Allan and Colton Dach –were on Canada's gold-medal winning squad last year that took championship in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Del Mastro, Allan and Dach are now too old to play in the WJC, an "under 20" competition.
Korchinski has two goals and four assists and is averaging 19:32 of ice time with Chicago, being paired with either Connor Murphy or Seth Jones. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound blueliner was just promoted to the Blackhawks' top power-play unit.
High-flying celly: Korchinski after scoring in OT to give Chicago a 4-3 win over Toronto.
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Korchinski's second goal this season came with 30 seconds left in overtime on Friday to give Chicago a 4-3 win over Toronto. Bedard's shot bounced off the back boards and Korchinski popped the puck in from the left edge of the crease.
The D-man jumped a couple of feet in the air to celebrate.
"I was really glad to see him rewarded with the goal in overtime in an unbelievable environment," Davidson said.
