CHL notebook: Blackhawks defenseman prospect Korchinski scoring more

Future NHL stars are developing in the Canadian Hockey League this season. Each week, NHL.com will highlight a few of the top NHL-affiliated prospects in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, the Ontario Hockey League and the Western Hockey League.

Kevin Korchinski
is learning that sometimes it's OK to be selfish.
The Chicago Blackhawks defenseman prospect has eight goals in 44 games this season, double the total he had in 67 games last season.
Korchinski was second among WHL defensemen with 61 assists last season but said a focus this season was to have more of a shooter's mentality, which meant being selfish when it came to approaching scoring chances.
"You almost have to have that selfish mindset but not in a selfish way," he said. "You have that confidence in yourself. There's only one puck on the ice and a lot of good players that are good shooters. It's having confidence in myself and that I can shoot the puck more and create more through that. It's been awesome to kind of add that and hopefully it continues onwards throughout the season and into the playoffs."
Blackhawks coach Luke Richardson, a former NHL defenseman, suggested in training camp that the 18-year-old needed to shoot the puck more, and Chicago assistant general manager of player development Mark Eaton has made sure Korchinski has maintained that approach throughout the season.

"Just something we've reinforced with him is to have more of a shooter mentality, maybe feel a little more selfish, don't pass up as many shots as he had been in the past," Eaton said. "And I think he's done a great job of kind of walking that line, literally and figuratively, on the power play, of knowing when to distribute and when to get shots off and to the net. With his skating he does such a great job of reading the opportunities of when to jump into play, when to be that second-wave option.
"He's a real coachable kid, and that was something that he mentioned he wanted to focus on a little more for this season, having more of that shooter mentality, and he's definitely followed through with it."
Korchinski's goal for the remainder of the season is to keep refining his offensive game (he's third in the WHL among defenseman with 52 assists) while also honing his defensive skills and trying to maintain his strength.
At 6-foot-1, 185 pounds, the No. 7 pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, said he understands he'll have to get stronger to play at the next level. But Seattle (46-9-1) leads the WHL Western Conference and is eyeing a berth in the Memorial Cup, which will be held May 25-June 4.
Reaching the Memorial Cup certainly is a goal, but it also means a shorter offseason to get ready to push for an NHL spot.
He got a head start in that regard by playing in three preseason games this season and sticking in training camp until Oct. 3.
"I feel like I gained the knowledge of how it is to be like a pro and how you have to treat it as a job obviously," he said. "You've got to be perfect in all aspects, whether it's on-ice, off-ice, in the gym, diet, all that stuff, be really dialed in. So I kind of learned what it was like to be a pro and I was able to bring that into this year.
"This season I've worked with a lot of the Blackhawks management on just kind of the habits, taking care of my body, keeping that strength through the season, then obviously this offseason will be huge for me."
Another advantage to playing deep into the postseason would be the chance to play more on a pair with defenseman Nolan Allan, the Blackhawks' first-round pick (No. 32) in the 2021 NHL Draft, who Seattle acquired in a trade with Prince Albert on Nov. 16.
"He's awesome, he really plays the game like a pro," Korchinski said. "He defends, blocks shots. He makes the right play, he can join offensively, just about do everything. He's confident. ... It's awesome just to be around him in the room. He's a friend and obviously he's a guy that I'll be kind of having my career with, you could say, almost joined together because he's going to be doing the same path as me. It's awesome having him and our team seems really happy."
Eaton also is happy to see the Blackhawks' top defensemen prospects growing together.
"Maybe a little glimpse into the future of the Blackhawks," he said. "A third of our [defense] corps hopefully for the future and a long time to come."

OTHERS TO WATCH

Michael Buchinger, D, Guelph, OHL (St. Louis Blues):Buchinger signed his three-year, entry-level contract with the Blues on Wednesday, and celebrated with his first two-goal game of the season, including an overtime goal in a 2-1 win against Mississauga, that night. The 18-year-old, selected in the third round (No. 88) of the 2022 NHL Draft, has 14 points (three goals, 11 assists) during a seven-game point streak, and has 57 points (13 goals, 44 assists) in 51 games this season.
Alexis Gendron, RW, Gatineau, QMJHL (Philadelphia Flyers): Gendron has 12 goals in his past five games, including five goals against Cape Breton on Feb. 18. Since being traded to Gatineau by Blainville-Boisbriand on Dec. 18, Gendron has 22 goals in 23 games. Selected by the Flyers in the seventh round (No. 220) of the 2022 draft, the 19-year-old is tied for second in the QMJHL with 44 goals in 52 games.
Brad Lambert, C, Seattle, WHL (Winnipeg Jets): Lambert had 17 points (nine goals, eight assists) during a nine-game point streak that ended Feb. 25. It was just the second time in 15 games he was held without a point. Since being assigned to Seattle on Jan. 9, the 19-year-old has 24 points (12 goals, 12 assists). The Jets selected Lambert in the first round (No. 30) of the 2022 draft.
Photo: Brian Liesse/Seattle Thunderbirds