CAN vs FIN, no score 1/2 thru the 1st........... Wiz, you up? Excited to see the Helenius kid.

I wanted Haltuunen.

Put it into perspective though Korchinski is 19 years old, playing his first pro season and just got back after being away from the team to grieve the death of his father. Do you really expect him to be a solid defensive defender right now?

The Hawks have admitted that they want him here learning in the NHL and that's what is happening, but about 1/4 of a season isn't going to be enough. Let the coaches worry about his development, because they are the ones telling him what to change, how to adjust, what to do differently and observing how he adapts.

There is a factor of skill and talent to playing defense. There is the skating, the awareness, hand eye co-ordination and instincts that go into it.

Again though, Korchinski is just 19 years old and making the jump to pro, lets see where he is after 200 games or so. He also may never be a great defensive dman, he could be a guy kind of like Brian Campbell, who was only "okay" in his own end, but had offensive talent and skating to be a really effective NHL player. A guy who, entered the league at age 20, but wasn't a real everyday player until age 22 or 23 and then really actually hit his stride at age 26.
Korchinski will probably be leaps and bounds ahead of where he is now in 3 years time. That's a reasonable timeline for him to really "get it" at the NHL level.
- breadbag

Campbell and Hammer were the shut down pair fwiw in 2010. Pretty good for a guy who is only ok in his own end.

I wanted Haltuunen.
- vabeachbear

Me too, VBear. Haven't followed Hultunen since the draft so not sure how he's doing.......... The FIN-CAN game is a good one so far. Didn't catch the start of it so don't know the lines but Rehkompf is the 13th forward!!!

The FIN goalie, Kokko, looks really good.. 2-1 CAN thru 2.

The Slovaks obviously knew something about Hrabal. They were shooting for his glove side all game, and I don’t think they were trying to exploit a weak glove hand but rather he doesn’t move to his left very well.

https://x.com/Chi_Prospec...38_L7-A_XWAC8G61Oc-g&s=01

https://x.com/Chi_Prospec...qc2mh2PsV7TJDkYqU7Ew&s=01

https://x.com/Chi_Prospec...0nKzSdPU-dwebySHAjdw&s=01

Some high lights of our prospect Gajan, man he's athletic

Congrats Canadian brethren on the win v Finland. Game was closer than the score indicates. Any win vs Finland is a good one and often a sigh of relief. ........ Good start.

Good to see Starman doing USA games instead of Button. Hopefully this sticks throughout the tournament.

Nazar 2C, great to see Hayes draw into the lineup at 4RW. Moore is the 13th forward. ...... Haven't seen the D pairings.

Norway's skating is impressive as is their little goalie's side to side ability/quickness. .. Lotta flow to this thing so far.

I hate stupid people
- rwilliams88

Discuss your self hate with your therapist. Or throw yourself in front of a train.

either one you decide works for me

Discuss your self hate with your therapist. Or throw yourself in front of a train.

eithe rone you decide works for me
- Elbows15

Hahaha, maybe you should take your own advice.

Hahaha, maybe you should take your own advice.
- BetweenTheDots

I don't hate myself.

and that guy is a massive jagoff, so (frank) him.

https://twitter.com/BenPo...yjgdMNrFQtH6C5_MuEwA&s=19

Pope does a prospect update

Isaac Phillips has not earned a full time NHL job yet, according to Blackhawks opinion in a Dec 24 story in The Chicago Sun Times

Examples of mistakes is cited. But he stays here at least until Jones and or Vlasic return

Reference the story:it was either M Eaton or Davidson articulation

I would bet Phillips will get better and eventually sticks. He is playing well in other areas as mentioned in the story.

Isaac Phillips has not earned a full time NHL job yet, according to Blackhawks opinion in a Dec 24 story in The Chicago Sun Times

Examples of mistakes is cited. But he stays here at least until Jones and or Vlasic return

Reference the story:it was either M Eaton or Davidson articulation

I would bet Phillips will get better and eventually sticks. He is playing well in other areas as mentioned in the story.
- jhawk59

They have Vlasic, Korchinski, Kaiser, Allan, Del Mastro, and Phillips, all left handed, plus Crevier and Rinzel on RD, this is not counting future picks, so at a minimum two or three of these will get moved. Vlasic and Korchinski aren’t going anywhere(probably), and neither is Jones due to contract. Let’s hope that KD and team choose wisely on who they move, and also hope that he chooses wisely on return.

Discuss your self hate with your therapist. Or throw yourself in front of a train.

either one you decide works for me
- Elbows15

Maybe try diving head first into an empty pool….would probably help

They have Vlasic, Korchinski, Kaiser, Allan, Del Mastro, and Phillips, all left handed, plus Crevier and Rinzel on RD, this is not counting future picks, so at a minimum two or three of these will get moved. Vlasic and Korchinski aren’t going anywhere(probably), and neither is Jones due to contract. Let’s hope that KD and team choose wisely on who they move, and also hope that he chooses wisely on return.
- Angotti

Kaiser and Allan have both spent significant time playing the right side for what it’s worth. That said, you have a great point.

They have Vlasic, Korchinski, Kaiser, Allan, Del Mastro, and Phillips, all left handed, plus Crevier and Rinzel on RD, this is not counting future picks, so at a minimum two or three of these will get moved. Vlasic and Korchinski aren’t going anywhere(probably), and neither is Jones due to contract. Let’s hope that KD and team choose wisely on who they move, and also hope that he chooses wisely on return.
- Angotti

Starting now, and continuing for several years, the highlighted is a vastly underrated issue. Not all (probably not even most) of the prospects will turn out to be important NHL players; trading those who don't for something useful before the rest of the league catches on is really important to the rebuild.

You're a wise man, Lou.

Starting now, and continuing for several years, the highlighted is a vastly underrated issue. Not all (probably not even most) of the prospects will turn out to be important NHL players; trading those who don't for something useful before the rest of the league catches on is really important to the rebuild.

You're a wise man, Lou.
- mohel

Be a good time to trade Korchiski before the league catches onto him.

They have Vlasic, Korchinski, Kaiser, Allan, Del Mastro, and Phillips, all left handed, plus Crevier and Rinzel on RD, this is not counting future picks, so at a minimum two or three of these will get moved. Vlasic and Korchinski aren’t going anywhere(probably), and neither is Jones due to contract. Let’s hope that KD and team choose wisely on who they move, and also hope that he chooses wisely on return.
- Angotti

Sure KD will have to make some moves but the luxury of being in a full fledged rebuild is you have time to develop these kids.

So let's say Phillips takes a consistent competent jump next year as a 20 minutes dman? Vlasic is playing better than 41 and Korchinski becomes a better 20 minute dman, then you have a wonderful trade chip. Don't have to move him right away but a 20 minute dman on a RFA contract who's making probably $1.5-$2.5 mil per for a couple of years, I'd imagine his value would be pretty high at the trade dead line.

I highly doubt KK is ever going to be all that great defensively. He’s just not that kind of defenseman. Can/will he get better, yes, but I see him as being closer to a Morgan Reilly type. He’s 19 and learning in the NHL. It will be kinda ugly for the next two years as he figures it out.

Right now (looking at his play before his absence), I see him as the second best D prospect behind Vlasic. Kaiser, Phillips, and Crevier are all promising, but KK has a bit extra juice in his game. By the end of the year, I’m confident he’ll have a better idea of how to harness his talent and identify where to pick his spots.
- Chunk

KK is 20 before next season starts. No reason why he can’t spend some time in the A next season, I don’t think LR and Dean are interested in developing the next EK65, they want their D to be able to play in their own zone too.

KK is 20 before next season starts. No reason why he can’t spend some time in the A next season, I don’t think LR and Dean are interested in developing the next EK65, they want their D to be able to play in their own zone too.
- LAHawk

I'm sure he'll get better, I just don't think he's going to be this defenseman who everyone recognizes as one of the best in his own zone.

I'm sure he'll get better, I just don't think he's going to be this defenseman who everyone recognizes as one of the best in his own zone.
- Chunk

I am glad to see that in his career - still very young- he has shown willingness to throw check, to push off puck etc al. Who knows what pairings could be in future years but having big Vlasic and Crevier is helpful - their reach. Some occasions an on rushing player may be more likely to skate down the side without the Stork or Chara type poke check by a Crevier and or Vlasic

You know too that KK will get stronger as he moves on from a teenager and probably has summer workouts. So half of a future defense may consist of players who are willing to be physical as needed. Fairly good bet two if not each of those guys will stay and then there is Allen and Del Mastro

As has been said will be interesting to see how it all plays out/pans out. If KD does draft a demand, at what slot and will it be a RH or LH. Best player available and if it turns out to be LH dman, you know future trades/moves will occur

I am glad to see that in his career - still very young- he has shown willingness to throw check, to push off puck etc al. Who knows what pairings could be in future years but having big Vlasic and Crevier is helpful - their reach. Some occasions am on rushing player may be more likely to skate down the side without the Stork or Chara type poke check by a Crevier and or Vlasic

You know too that KK will get stronger as he moves on from a teenager and probably has summer workouts. So half of a future defense may consist if players who are willing to be physical as needed. Fairly good bet two if not each of those guys will stay and then there is Allen and Del Mastro

As has been said will be interesting to see how it all plays out/pans out. If KD does draft a dmsn, at what slot and will it be a RH or LH. Best player available and if it turns out to be LH dmsn, you know future trades/moves will occur
- jhawk59

Korchinski is already better in his own end then Leddy was the entire time he was in Chicago. With this coaching staff and time to play vs the best players in the world he will get better, i can see he's trying to figure it out and seems to be very conscious of where he's at, where he's supposed to be and keeps his head on a swivel to see if players are trying to sneak in behind him and so on.

Be a good time to trade Korchiski before the league catches onto him.
- Elbows15

Says the man who thinks Bobby Orr spent too much time in the offensive zone.