The Chicago Blackhawks have signed their 7th overall pick Kevin Korchinski to a three-year entry-level contract. The deal is worth $1.95 million a year.
Kevin Korchinski Signs With Blackhawks
According to CapFriendly, the contract has a base salary of $855,000 and $95,000 in signing bonuses. If Korchinski plays in the minors, he will have a base salary of $82,500. The contract also comes with a schedule type ‘A’ signing bonus, worth $1 million.
Kevin Korchinski #Blackhawks
7th overall pick (2022)
3-year ELCCap Hit: $950k
AAV: $1.95MEach year:
$855k base salary
$95k signing bonus
$82.5k minors salary
$1M type ‘A’ p.bonushttps://t.co/bPsOamEgAh— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) August 11, 2022
Korchinski, 18, has spent his entire junior career with the WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds. This past season was his best with Seattle, as he recorded 65 points in 67 games as a defenseman. He was also an impressive +36 this season, the first time he was a plus during his junior career.
He was picked with the 2022 1st round pick that the Blackhawks acquired in the package that was given to them in exchange for Alex DeBrincat.
What This Means
The Blackhawks have made it clear that they are a rebuilding team for the foreseeable future. Players like DeBrincat, Kirby Dach, Marc-Andre Fleury and Brandon Hagel have already been traded for prospects and picks. Now all the attention turns to Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane. The two faces of the Blackhawks dynasty are likely to be moved as part of the rebuild. It is going to be difficult for Blackhawks fans to say goodbye to so many of their favourites but it is what GM Kyle Davidson believes is necessary to return the ‘Hawks to dominance.
The rebuild started this draft. Chicago had three first-round picks to get it started. Korchinski was Chicago’s first selection in the first round, meaning they have high expectations for the Saskatoon native. While he is unlikely to make the jump from junior to the NHL, the young defender is expected to be an anchor for the team in the coming years. Still, there is some risk with Korchinski, he only really broke out as a prospect this past year. So he may need a little more seasoning before he is ready to contribute in the NHL.
What the Blackhawks provide, however, is an opportunity for Korchinski, or any of their new prospects, to earn playing time quickly. Granted, they need to earn it and prove they can play in the NHL, but the team is clearing the decks of older players. This means that there are more open rosters spots with the big club for the kids to earn.
Kevin Korchinski on going No. 7 overall to Chicago: “Surreal. I didn’t see it coming.” #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/ivAI8wpmpn
— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) July 8, 2022
