Kevin Korchinski, Frank Nazar Won't Make Blackhawks' Roster

10/02/2024 10:06 AM

Recent first-round picks Kevin Korchinski and Frank Nazar won’t make the Blackhawks’ opening night roster. They were both part of roster cuts the team announced Wednesday and will begin the 2024-25 season on assignment to the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs.

The 20-year-old Korchinski is coming off his first professional season, all of which he spent on the NHL roster. The 2022 seventh-overall pick made the Hawks out of camp last year and logged top-four minutes on a paper-thin Chicago defense. However, it wasn’t the best move for the puck-moving defender’s development. He logged 15 points and a -39 rating in 76 games, posting the worst possession quality metrics of any Blackhawks skater. He’s looked overmatched at times in preseason play this year, too, posting a -3 rating in Tuesday’s 7-2 loss to the Wild.

More to come…