LD Kevin Korchinski - Seattle Thunderbirds, WHL (2022, 7th, CHI)

[samsagat]

A big riser, might go top-15.

Excellent base skill wise, gracious skater, good hockey IQ.

What not to like about him?

Could be a steal.

 

[FlyguyOX]

Apparently fairly lackadaisical in defensive efforts

 

[ORRFForever]

2 assists against Tri City in the 2nd...

GP	G	A	PTS	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	SOG	FOW
62	4	53	57	31	36	0	0	134	0

 

[Artorius Horus T]

First 11 games, 0+5 -1
Last 52 games, 4+50, +32

 

[FLYguy3911]

If used in the right role can be effective and get points(3rd pairing sheltered minutes/PP specialist) but he's not a player who'll win you a cup like the Guhles/Schneiders.

...and this is how Nolan Allan gets taken before Olen Zellweger.

 

[Bubbles]

3A tonight.

 

[Artorius Horus T]

3A tonight.

In his first ever WHL/CHL play-offs game

 

[Gstank]

He's been that way since Bantam, even made him a forward in Midget for a bit because he was so bad. Whenever pressured panics and makes bad decisions. Large amount of his points are also a product of role(Heavy PP/2ndary assists) but his size+skating will intrigue teams. If used in the right role can be effective and get points(3rd pairing sheltered minutes/PP specialist) but he's not a player who'll win you a cup like the Guhles/Schneiders.

Did you really just say you can Win a cup with players like Schnieder and Guhle.... LOL There are still questions if those two can even be top 4 Dman let alone top pairing minute munchers

 

[Jetsetter]

If Korchinski is still available when the Jets pick, he's a Jet!

 

[Skinnyjimmy08]

hes been outstanding to start the playoffs. 9 points in 3 games so far

3 goals 6 assists

 

[BKarchitect]

Strikes me as a guy who the consensus around may say one thing (late 1st/early 2nd) but there may be a select team or two of scouts who just have fallen head over heels in love with his toolset and may vouch for him to be picked much, much higher.

I think if I had to lay a bet down on a guy who comes out of completely nowhere (in terms of consensus) and gets picked in the top 10, it is probably KK for me. After Jiricek and Nemec there’s kind of a gap to the Mateychuk/Nelson/Casey group. With his undeniable tools and if he continues a scorching hot playoff run - a team who doesn’t have an impact defender in the system and really wants to shoot for the moon may say, “screw it, we love this guy’s potential and don’t see a ton of upside in the blueline group further down our rankings” and just take him very, very high.

So there’s my hot take - I don’t personally think he’s the third best defenseman in this draft but I think he’s the third one off the board and he’s gonna go around the 10th pick as one of, if not *the* surprise early in the draft.

 

[JMac13]

Strikes me as a guy who the consensus around may say one thing (late 1st/early 2nd) but there may be a select team or two of scouts who just have fallen head over heels in love with his toolset and may vouch for him to be picked much, much higher.

I think if I had to lay a bet down on a guy who comes out of completely nowhere (in terms of consensus) and gets picked in the top 10, it is probably KK for me. After Jiricek and Nemec there’s kind of a gap to the Mateychuk/Nelson/Casey group. With his undeniable tools and if he continues a scorching hot playoff run - a team who doesn’t have an impact defender in the system and really wants to shoot for the moon may say, “screw it, we love this guy’s potential and don’t see a ton of upside in the blueline group further down our rankings” and just take him very, very high.

So there’s my hot take - I don’t personally think he’s the third best defenseman in this draft but I think he’s the third one off the board and he’s gonna go around the 10th pick as one of, if not *the* surprise early in the draft.

I can see this happening for sure. He is a tough one to figure out as his tools are outstanding and if someone thinks his decision making and poise under pressure can adapt to higher levels he'll go high. I really haven't been able to make up my own mind on what I think yet.

 

[Artorius Horus T]

Don't know much about him, but points he can score OMG.

reg & p-o combined :

8 goals, 71 assists, +46, 171 sog and 56 pim,

 

[bsu]

Chabot-like defensemen. Takes whatever space you give him or makes his own with his skating and creativity, can get himself into trouble with too much roaming. Skates like he can play the whole game.

 

[FourQuarters]

Don't know much about him, but points he can score OMG.

reg & p-o combined :

8 goals, 71 assists, +46, 171 sog and 56 pim,

Rockets fans have known him for a long time. Look like he will be the WHL rookie of year.

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

A big riser, might go top-15.

Excellent base skill wise, gracious skater, good hockey IQ.

What not to like about him?

Could be a steal.

He's mediocre defensively on a good day.

This kid could be Chabot. He could also be Cholowski. When he's got the puck on his stick the kid looks phenomenal. But the problem is he doesn't have the puck on his stick all the time.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

He's mediocre defensively on a good day.

This kid could be Chabot. He could also be Cholowski. When he's got the puck on his stick the kid looks phenomenal. But the problem is he doesn't have the puck on his stick all the time.

Harley is the middle ground. I think some are overrating him. No way I’d pick him top 10, but I think his upside is high enough that he has to go top 20-25.

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

Harley is the middle ground. I think some are overrating him. No way I’d pick him top 10, but I think his upside is high enough that he has to go top 20-25.

I’d go so far as 15 to 25 but this is definitely a boom or bust pick. If a team shows some patience with him and gives him a good amount of time and attention to develop his defensive game then he could turn into a pretty good ppqb.

 

[Frk It]

He's mediocre defensively on a good day.

This kid could be Chabot. He could also be Cholowski. When he's got the puck on his stick the kid looks phenomenal. But the problem is he doesn't have the puck on his stick all the time.

He had a better draft season in the W than Cholowski did his +2 year in the W. Miles ahead of Cholowski at the same age. One of the younger players in this draft and has played a huge role for that Seattle team that exceeded expectations.

Don’t think he’s overrated at all.

 

[bsu]

All 3 of the defensemen after Jiricek and Nemec are underrated.

 

[Doublechin]

If a team trusts its system enough to develop and mature his defensive game, I'd take him anywhere after 5. Currently his defensive game is very lackluster but a lot of it are based on junior plays which he won't be able to pull off at the NHL level

If you draft this kid and develop his D game you have an elite Dman.

 

[bsu]

Highest upside is Chabot-like hopefully someone drafts him has a good defensive development coach.

 

[BKarchitect]

Still my pick for the “WTF they picked who that high?!?!” choice. There is going to be a team (maybe several) who are going to have him very, very high in their boards because they think they can coach the deficiencies out of his game and really weaponize him at the pro level. Other teams will have him much, much lower - perhaps a full round or more disparity in his draft area depending on the scouting staff. But it only takes one team to have him high for him to become quite possibly a top 10 pick. I think this is very possible. I’m not saying I’d want my team to pick him that high - but I can definitely see it happening.

I think most of us visualize a monumental gulf right now between Nemec/Jiricek and all the other defenders but I think in particular, Korchinski and Mintyukov may end up much closer to the former two than people are expecting - based on raw, moldable tools.

 

[Doublechin]

Still my pick for the “WTF they picked who that high?!?!” choice. There is going to be a team (maybe several) who are going to have him very, very high in their boards because they think they can coach the deficiencies out of his game and really weaponize him at the pro level. Other teams will have him much, much lower - perhaps a full round or more disparity in his draft area depending on the scouting staff. But it only takes one team to have him high for him to become quite possibly a top 10 pick. I think this is very possible. I’m not saying I’d want my team to pick him that high - but I can definitely see it happening.

I think most of us visualize a monumental gulf right now between Nemec/Jiricek and all the other defenders but I think in particular, Korchinski and Mintyukov may end up much closer to the former two than people are expecting - based on raw, moldable tools.

I still think Nemec is the can't miss top pairing this year. Maybe not top pairing elite offensively but enough to play 25 min a night and have 45 points a year while being on the ice in all key situations.

Jiricek to me has an insane set of tools but there is still rawness to his game and might be too much of a wild card for being warranted as such a high pick, some teams mught shy away at 5 where I think is where his value starts coming in. Korchinski has the best offensive talent bar none here, some might debate that for Mateychuk but I see KK as being a tier above. He's still far from from being a finished product and especially in his zone but if a team is able to develop his D game they have hit a home run.

Mintyukov, I lean towards having him in my top 10, he has a better shot than anyone not named Jiricek, is better defensively than anyone not named Nemec but is good to very good in most other aspects. He strikes me as a can't miss number 3-4 D.

 

[majormajor]

All 3 of the defensemen after Jiricek and Nemec are underrated.

I could see Korchinski, Mintyukov, and Mateychuk ending up more valuable (on average) than the raft of smallish wingers ranked ahead of them (Savoie, Nazar, Kemell, Lekkerimaki, etc...)

Korchinski needs the most development though, there's a lot more risk with him.