When the Blackhawks take the ice in Pittsburgh on Opening Night, all eyes will be on Connor Bedard. Announcers will sing his praises for at least the first two periods. Even when the camera isn’t pointed directly at Bedard, fans will be focused on the several new additions suiting up in a Blackhawks sweater for the first time. Players like Taylor Hall, Ryan Donato, Nick Foligno, and Corey Perry will be worth watching for many fans.
While shiny new toys are always exciting, some of the best storylines may come from within the ranks of the Blackhawks’ program. Three players, all of whom are expected to be on the roster come Opening Night, are particularly intriguing.
Kevin Korchinski
Could we get any more obvious? Bedard would take the cake for the most exciting player to watch heading into the 2023-24 season, but beyond him, plenty of attention will be focused on the former seventh overall pick, as he’s expected to finally get his shot at the NHL level. Fans always hope the best for these prospects, especially when there’s so much capital invested in them. The truth, however, is that some prospects just don’t pan out, and there’s no such thing as a sure thing. Will Korchinski flounder against fast-paced, highly skilled NHL talent, or will he be the top-notch defensive prospect Chicago drafted him to be?
In addition to the uncertainty surrounding Korchinski this fall, his game itself is enticing. He profiles as an offensive-minded prospect, and his most prominent feature is that he’s constantly attacking the middle lane of the ice, setting up numerous opportunities for his teammates. Every time he has the puck on his stick and is moving up the ice, there’s no telling what might happen. Talk about must-watch.
Lukas Reichel
Reichel is a name Blackhawks fans are growing to love. After being drafted 17th overall, he finally made the jump to the NHL last season, tallying 15 points in 23 games. The young winger certainly seemed to come into his own toward the end of last season, and the city of Chicago has extremely high hopes for him going forward.
In order to fulfill expectations, however, Reichel will need to significantly step up his game. It seems fans and the front office alike expect the 21-year-old to blossom into a leader immediately. That’s a lot to ask out of a player with 34 career NHL games, but Reichel clearly has the talent to potentially become a cornerstone of Chicago’s franchise. At the very least, his play will be interesting to keep an eye on.
Taylor Raddysh
The final name on this list is potentially most surprising, but Raddysh has both the talent and production to be a force on the Blackhawks’ attacking lines. While there were times last year where Raddysh was expected to be traded, he ended up tied for the team lead in goals, and was productive on a squad that lacked any kind of offense. He’s best when he’s setting up chances for his teammates, and could make a great linemate for Bedard.
While the Blackhawks hope Raddysh can take the next step after his first full season, he hasn’t exactly been a superstar. Sure, he led the team in a handful of categories, but his metrics still look terrible in a vacuum, as there wasn’t a ton of offensive competition for the team last year. He’ll still have to step up, just like everyone else on the team, as Chicago attempts to climb out of their massive rebuild. Otherwise, he may end up losing ground to a young group of prospects that are all chasing after his probable top-6 spot. Whether he is able to take a next step and earn his spot, or be swallowed up by Chicago’s strong prospect pool, Raddysh will be worth keeping an eye on throughout the next season.
Fan expectations are always high for young players, and it seems like Korchinski, Reichel, and Raddysh have more pressure on their shoulders than most. That burden makes the three young skaters must-watch candidates for the upcoming season, however, as time will tell as to whether they live up to the hype or crumble under it.
