NEWSLETTER
Over the past 12-15 months, we’ve talked a lot about how strong the 2023 NHL draft class appears to be. Many analysts have touted this summer’s group as one of the deepest in years, which is why teams like the Blackhawks have stockpiled picks in this specific draft. But it also raises the question: how would past draft picks — like defenseman Kevin Korchinski — rank against this summer’s prospects?
On Tuesday morning, Corey Pronman at The Athletic went ahead and answered those questions for us (in his opinion). Using Bob McKenzie’s rankings of the top ten overall prospects from last year and this year, he created a Top 20 list comparing last year’s group to this year’s collection of future stars.
Last summer, the Blackhawks targeted Korchinski when they started considering a trade for forward Alex DeBrincat. He possesses a package of size and speed that’s rare, and the Blackhawks coveted what he brings to the ice. Chicago was able to select Korchinski seventh overall after trading DeBrincat to Ottawa.
In Pronman’s piece, he has Korchinski ranked 12th overall — the third defenseman on the board and top-ranked left-handed defenseman in the group.
Pronman ranks David Jiricek, the sixth overall pick by Columbus last year, eighth and David Reinbacher, the top-ranked defenseman in this year’s draft, ninth overall.
Here’s what he said about Korchinski when comparing him to Reinbacher in this year’s group:
Comparing Korchinski to Reinbacher, I think Reinbacher is a better defender with a tad more offensive instincts, but Korchinski is a notably better skater. It would be a razor-tight debate for me between the two players. I lean Reinbacher because of what he’s done versus men.
As Scott Powers of The Athletic pointed out after Seattle’s season ended this past weekend, Korchinski produced 95 points in 88 games this past hockey year between NHL preseason games, Seattle’s regular and post seasons, and the World Junior Championship tournament. Those are fantastic numbers for a player who doesn’t turn 19 until late-June this year.
The defensive side of the game is where Korchinski does need more work; the question now will be if he gets that work with the Blackhawks in the NHL this coming season or back in Seattle. (Remember: because of his age, the AHL isn’t an option for the 2023-24 season.)
Pronman ranked the top five players in the 2023 draft — Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, Matvei Michkov, Leo Carlsson and Will Smith — ahead of Juraj Slafkovsky, last year’s No. 1 overall pick by Montreal. Logan Cooley, who finished the runner-up for the Hobey Baker Award behind Fantilli and was selected third overall by Arizona last year, ranked sixth.
