Prospect Info: Kevin Korchinski, 7th Overall, 2022 NHL Draft

After watching the t-birds playoffs and memorial cup I would be ok if KK played another year in the WHL. He still has things to work on and I’m concerned it may be harder to work on them in the AHL.

Allen looks really good. He seems to play a good 2-way game.

Dach looks like a bottom 6 guy that can run around and chip in occasionally. Sort of looks like Entwhistle with a bit more jam.

Korchinski is not eligible to play in the AHL in 2023/24 - it's either WHL or NHL.
 
I harp on him needing to work on improving his shot but his passing and recognition are very good. He's sees plays and quickly makes the perfect pass - 5 foot or 10 foot or 30 foot and they're off his stick and on the money in a blink.
Yesterday‘s game I saw multiple guys on him behind the Seattle net, they way he can still get the perfect break out pass out even with pressure on him is unreal.
 
All three Hawk prospect had strong games yesterday as Seattle advanced to Sunday's Memorial Cup Final. Dach had a goal and was strong on boards, Allan had few big hits and almost a fight (stood up for teammate that got crosschecked to boards) and KK was spot on with his passing.
 
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I harp on him needing to work on improving his shot but his passing and recognition are very good. He's sees plays and quickly makes the perfect pass - 5 foot or 10 foot or 30 foot and they're off his stick and on the money in a blink.
What does his shot need improvement on? Velocity, accuracy, getting through traffic?
 
In the games I have watched, he rarely shoots. When he does generally wrist shot.
He had 179 SOG in season (7th most on SEA).
Owen Zellwegger/D (Kamloops) had 345.
 
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He doesn’t need to have a good shot to be a great player. It’s clearly not his game. At his best he’s going to be a zone entry/zone exit beast that can stretch the ice with his passing. There are plenty of incredible defenseman that are profiled just like that. hawk examples: Duncan Keith had a terrible shot. Seth Jones.

Zellwegger is cool like a rich man’s Tory Krug. Adam Boqvist. You don’t have to do that to be ready. He is entirely too casual in the D zone and we’ll know he’s really ready when he’s regularly making end to end rushes and keeping a good gap with a good stick.
 
What does his shot need improvement on? Velocity, accuracy, getting through traffic?
Yes - all three, plus more of a willingness to take the shot.

He skates well enough to do the d-man walk the blue line thing to open up a lane to the net but he's a tick slow in getting the shot off in that split second before the lane closes.

When he does take the shot it's more of a slow ball than a fast ball. He needs to improve the velocity of his wrister. And again, because he doesn't get it off quickly it is often blocked by a d-man of the goalie gets in position to stop it.

The willingness to shoot thing should be interesting to see how it plays out next season because whereas this season the Seattle lineup was absolutely stacked with high end offensive guys and shooters - next season will probably be much different. If I count correctly - (7) top-9 forwards and (3) top-6 d-men will be gone. Korchinski will be "da man" and be forced to take some of those shots he deferred this season.
 
After watching the t-birds playoffs and memorial cup I would be ok if KK played another year in the WHL. He still has things to work on and I’m concerned it may be harder to work on them in the AHL.

Allen looks really good. He seems to play a good 2-way game.

Dach looks like a bottom 6 guy that can run around and chip in occasionally. Sort of looks like Entwhistle with a bit more jam.
KK has definitely not outgrown the WHL. He has much to learn and is nowhere near a dominating player at this level.
 
He doesn’t need to have a good shot to be a great player. It’s clearly not his game. At his best he’s going to be a zone entry/zone exit beast that can stretch the ice with his passing. There are plenty of incredible defenseman that are profiled just like that. hawk examples: Duncan Keith had a terrible shot. Seth Jones.

Zellwegger is cool like a rich man’s Tory Krug. Adam Boqvist. You don’t have to do that to be ready. He is entirely too casual in the D zone and we’ll know he’s really ready when he’s regularly making end to end rushes and keeping a good gap with a good stick.

I love Zellweger's game - when he is playing offense. His defense isn't bad because his quickness is a pretty good equalizer and he has willingness to stick his nose into a play - but, I've seen him get beat many times when he wouldn't have if he had better positional awareness. It seems he spends most of the time on the balls of his feet waiting to pounce to offense than being appropriately cautious with his positioning. There are plenty of other NHL d-men the same thing can be said about. I think Zellweger will be a good offensive d-man in the NHL.
 
KK has definitely not outgrown the WHL. He has much to learn and is nowhere near a dominating player at this level.

Putting things into perspective - KD has made a point that taking time with prospects is part of the rebuild strategy and there's no reason to question their commitment to follow through on that at this time. The same measured approach is applied to the rebuild in general - they will not rush the plan. Therefore, KK is not only not supremely ready, he's also not needed in the Hawks lineup at this stage of the rebuild. Maybe a case can be made for him to play in the AHL but that option isn't available so it's either WHL or NHL and I hope KD sticks to his guns and KK spends next season leading the T-birds.
 
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Putting things into perspective - KD has made a point that taking time with prospects is part of the rebuild strategy and there's no reason to question their commitment to follow through on that at this time. The same measured approach is applied to the rebuild in general - they will not rush the plan. Therefore, KK is not only not supremely ready, he's also not needed in the Hawks lineup at this stage of the rebuild. Maybe a case can be made for him to play in the AHL but that option isn't available so it's either WHL or NHL and I hope KD sticks to his guns and KK spends next season leading the T-birds.
My post is really pointed at those who have said they believe KK would be better served playing in the A than in the Dub. He clearly is best served continuing to learn the game at the Dub level, imo.
 
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I thought Koeinski was pretty good in physical battles last night . Defended well ..much better than at beginning of the season...As he fillls his frame the physical aspect will get better...not worried about it...More concerning is his lack of shooting...passing up own shots for passes to team-mates. While a terrific passer ...especiallly on the PP there are times he should be taking more shots hinself...If they opps know you will notshoot ,they will defend the passing lanes better..Also when he does actually shoot,too many of his shots get blocked.. In contrast his d-partner (undrafted Jeremy Hanzal) likes to shoot and that can lead to him scoring goals or causing the goalie to give renoubds and crease scambles in which chaos results in goals .

This is the biggest issue I have with Korchinski...He must work on his shot and the threat of a shot..

When you shootvasxa point dman,you are taking charge...not deferring to others to shoot..not to say he should nly shoot ...just that he needs to shoot more often and get to a lane to get his shot on net.

If he adds a shot threat and more goals scored off his shot this will help him become "the guy" his lofty draft status indicated was that he could fully emerge as ...if he does not add this element then there will always be criticism that he never quite fulfilled the hopes for him.
 
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One thing I learned about the board from my previous years ... we are way too harsh on young defenseman. Athough some are merited criticisms, many times we give up way too quickly on young DMen. The unfortunate truth ... DMen (esp. tall ones) usually take a long time to develop and like most fans, we are way too impatient. For that reason, let KK stay in the WHL for another year. Let him develop without the glare of Chicago. There's no rush to get him to the AHL or NHL.
 
Watching Shea Theodore make great plays in the cup is exciting and I can see the comparison that KK tries to model. But the skating with the puck and keeping it in with twists is right there. Kk still needs to work on being aggressive like that when his team is less talented
 
Nhl Network starts at 6pm

Doesn’t seem to be live for whatever reason
Well, as I use YouTube tv and Bettman seems to not want streaming services to have NHL
tV…..I’ll wait for the synopsis online here.
 
They got their shit pushed in. Korchinski probably had a goal on a Wrap in garbage time. He was too passive and looked tired and his effort in the D Zone was pretty embarrassing.

But he’s young and very good. Not ready at all.
 
Kevin K is a great prospect , he needs some polish and to get stronger . Yes I agree he will be dealt to a contender in the Dub .
 

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