Blackhawks Sign No. 7 Overall Pick

The Chicago Blackhawks got a nice piece of business done today, officially signing their first-round pick (7th overall), elite defenseman prospect Kevin Korchinski, to an entry-level contract.

Signed, sealed, delivered - he’s ours! pic.twitter.com/lWySX6g3Af

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) August 10, 2022

It's a 3-year deal, running through the 2024-25 season, with a cap hit of $950,000.

The Hawks had acquired the 7th pick from Ottawa in the trade that sent Alex DeBrincat to the Senators just before the 2022 NHL Draft. 

Korchinski will play at least another year with Seattle in the WHL. Last season, he recorded 65 points (on 61 assists) in 67 games with the Thunderbirds. 

“For a kid that size, you don’t appreciate the elusiveness and the quickness that he has until you see it at ice level. He’s hard to pin down. He’s in and out of a spot in the blink of an eye," wrote Scott Powers of The Athletic. "He has a chance to be an extremely special player, especially with the way the game is being played nowadays, some of the skill level of some of the defensemen in the NHL."

In fact, NHL Draft Consultant Byron Bader says "Korchinski is a stud offensive d-man prospect. I expect his star probability to shoot through the roof in the next two seasons. The best prospect the Blackhawks have drafted since Alex DeBrincat."

Photo: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports