Blackhawks Have Two Breakout Candidates for 2024-25 — Kevin Korchinski and Lukas Reichel

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September 2, 2024

The Chicago Blackhawks are going to have a really totally different look this season because the group is far older, deeper and extra skilled. Whereas normal supervisor Kyle Davidson and coach Luke Richardson gave many younger gamers alternatives final season, solely two — defenseman Alex Vlasic and ahead Philipp Kurashev — had actual breakout years.

In 2024-25, the Blackhawks will likely be higher, however the younger gamers and prospects must actually show themselves to earn jobs. We are going to see fewer alternatives for breakouts by gamers on the Blackhawks this season due to it, however realistically it ought to create higher competitors and extra drive for the gamers to earn spots.

Final season the Blackhawks showcased Connor Bedard, and the rookie got here in swinging. Whereas that should not be seen as a breakout because it was his first season within the NHL, Kurashev’s and Vlasic’s performances have been.

Who has the potential to interrupt out in 2024-25 for the Blackhawks? Defenseman Kevin Korchinski and heart Lukas Reichel.

Kevin Korchinski

Korchinski was thrown right into a lower than excellent state of affairs final season as a 19-year-old rookie. A yr within the AHL would’ve finished him nicely, however his age compelled the Blackhawks to determine between sending him again to Seattle of the WHL for an additional season after dominating or placing him on Chicago within the NHL. He would not have gotten way more growth in junior and he may need been higher off if the Blackhawks did not want him to play top-4 minutes proper off the bat.

The Blackhawks depth on protection was not nice and accidents solely made it worse. Korchinski, paired with Connor Murphy, would have been nice in his rookie season had Murphy not missed 36 video games.

The Blackhawks weren’t in a position to shelter Korchinski in his first season the place he may have realized behind some extra established defensemen. This was as a result of Vlasic was younger, different prospects got an opportunity to play (Wyatt Kaiser, Louis Crevier, Isaak Phillips), and the veterans beneath Korchinski on the depth chart included Jaycob Megna, Jarred Tinordi, and Nikita Zaitsev, two of whom do not even have NHL contracts this season.

Korchinski averaged 19:17 of ice time final season and scored 5 objectives and 15 factors in 75 video games, however was additionally a -39. He began over 60% of the faceoffs at even energy within the offensive zone, so Richardson noticed the potential and offensive means. One massive drawback is that the Blackhawks have been very dangerous offensively, scoring simply 178 objectives which ranked final within the league.

Various issues have to remain true this season to ensure that Korchinski to have a lot larger success. If he will get extra consistency with Murphy or one skilled accomplice all season, begins a whole lot of attracts within the offensive zone as he had in his rookie season, naturally develops from a yr of expertise within the NHL, and the Blackhawks show to be pretty much as good offensively as they give the impression of being on paper, Korchinski’s 15 factors ought to simply bounce as much as over 30.

It might not be an enormous breakout and switch him right into a prime offensive defenseman simply but, however it will likely be a begin for the 20-year-old who has a few years of dominating forward of him.

Lukas Reichel

Davidson positioned confidence in Reichel on the finish of final season when he was signed to a two-year, $1.2 million AAV deal. His 2023-24 season did not go the best way he or the Blackhawks had hoped. The 22-year-old did not seize the second line heart function after it was his to lose and cut up time between the NHL and the AHL.

After the Blackhawks’ season had ended, Reichel seemingly discovered his confidence and recreation. He skated within the playoffs with the AHL Rockford IceHogs, scoring two objectives and 4 factors in 4 video games. Then Reichel joined the Workforce Germany within the World Championship the place he scored three objectives and 7 factors in six video games in opposition to significantly better and extra skilled competitors.

Reichel has the flexibility to supply on the NHL stage as he confirmed in 2022-23. His kind of trial run noticed him rating seven objectives and 15 factors in 23 video games. That’s the reason it was disappointing that he solely scored 5 objectives and 16 factors in 65 video games final season.

Extra so than Korchinski, Reichel has already proven the flexibility to supply at a excessive stage and must be heading into the Blackhawks’ coaching camp feeling very assured. He’ll possible land in a 3rd line function, which is not proscribing, but in addition is not with one of the best gamers on the workforce. Do not be shocked if he begins robust and is then given some appears to be like because the second line heart once more. If that seems to be the case, a bounce-back/breakout is so as.

The success and the expansion of Korchinski and Reichel could have a large affect on the Blackhawks this season, however on the similar time, will not make or break the workforce’s season. On the very least, each must be higher in 2024-25 than they have been final season.