Blackhawks Sign Kevin Korchinski to Two-Year Deal

The Chicago Blackhawks agreed to terms with defenseman Kevin Korchinski on a two-year contract, the club announced Saturday. The deal is worth $2.65 million in total and carries an annual salary cap hit of $1,325,000 across the 2026-27 and 2027-28 seasons.

Korchinski, 22, was a restricted free agent, and the signing completed Chicago's offseason business with its restricted free agents.

The Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, native appeared in 13 games with the Blackhawks in 2025-26, recording two assists. He spent the bulk of the season with the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League, posting 26 points on two goals and 24 assists in 53 games. He was selected to the 2026 AHL All-Star Classic, his second consecutive appearance, after being named All-Star Challenge MVP in 2025.

Chicago selected Korchinski in the first round, seventh overall, at the 2022 NHL Draft. He played 76 games as a rookie in 2023-24, finishing with five goals and 15 points while posting a minus-39 rating. He has appeared in 29 NHL games in the two seasons since, 16 in 2024-25 and 13 in 2025-26. Over 109 regular-season AHL games with Rockford, he has five goals and 48 assists for 53 points.

In 105 career NHL games, all with Chicago, Korchinski has six goals and 13 assists for 19 points.

Korchinski is no longer exempt from waivers as of 2026-27, meaning another club could claim him if the Blackhawks try to assign him to the AHL. Chicago's group of young defensemen also includes Artyom Levshunov and Sam Rinzel.