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NHL Notebook: Kevin Korchinski signs two-year contract with Blackhawks
Photo credit: Sergei Belski/USA Today Sports
Aug 30, 2026, 19:00 EDTUpdated: Aug 30, 2026, 18:39 EDT
One of the Chicago Blackhawks’ younger players has signed a bridge deal.
On Saturday afternoon, the Original Six team announced that Kevin Korchinski signed a two-year deal worth $2.65 million, which carries a cap hit of $1.325 million.
Korchinski, born in Saskatoon, was drafted seventh overall by the Blackhawks in the 2022 draft. He returned to the Western Hockey League’s Seattle Thunderbirds for the following season, helping the team win the Ed Chynoweth Cup.
The left-shot defenceman played all of the 2023-24 season in the National Hockey League, scoring five goals and 15 points in 76 games. However, his past two seasons have been mainly spent with the Blackhawks’ American Hockey League affiliate team, the Rockford IceHogs.
Korchinski played just 16 games with the Blackhawks in 2024-25, then another 13 games with the rebuilding team in 2025-26. His production in the AHL has been solid though, scoring five goals and 53 points in 109 games the past two seasons.
With the Blackhawks still projected to be a team near the bottom of the standings, Korchinski should be ready to become a full-time NHL’er in 2026-27.
Canucks sign Chris Driedger to professional try out
On Thursday, the Vancouver Canucks announced that they’ve signed netminder Chris Driedger to a professional tryout.
General Manager Ryan Johnson announced today that the #Canucks have signed goaltender Chris Driedger to a Professional Tryout (PTO) agreement and hired Sean Finn as an Amateur Scout. DETAILS | vancanucks.co/4zOeQPp
It’s the third one that has been given out so far this off-season, as the Calgary Flames reportedly signed Alex Nylander to one last week, while the Washington Capitals gave one to netminder Cal Petersen. Both of which came on Tuesday.
Driedger is a Winnipeg, Manitoba product who was drafted by the Ottawa Senators all the way back in 2012. He played one game in each of the 2014-15, 2015-16, and 2016-17 seasons, with his first real taste of NHL action coming with the Florida Panthers in 2019-20. (He played much of his junior hockey with the Western Hockey League’s Calgary Hitmen.)
Over 12 games, the netminder posted a .938 save percentage and 2.05 goals against average with his first career shutout. That earned him the Panthers’ backup job in 2020-21, where he finished with a .927 save percentage and 2.07 goals against average over 23 games.
Driedger was one of three players signed by the Seattle Kraken before the 2021 expansion draft. Serving as their backup, he finished with an .899 save percentage and 2.96 goals against average in 27 games. Those games, aside from two with the Kraken in 2023-24, turned out to be his last real taste of NHL action.
The 32-year-old spent three seasons in the AHL before playing his 2025-26 season with the Kontinental Hockey League’s Traktor Chelyabinsk. Over 23 games, he had an .897 save percentage and 3.05 goals against average.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for DFO Calgary, DFO Edmonton, and Blue Jays Nation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.
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Calgary FlamesTeam Cap Summary
Cap Summary
2026-27
2027-28
Projected Cap Hit
$89,116,666
$70,041,666
Projected Cap Space
$14,883,334
$43,458,334
Current Cap Space
$14,883,334
$43,458,334
Active Players
23/23
16/23
Draft Picks
Round
'26
'27
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2
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