Blackhawks prospect Kevin Korchinski rediscovering his bold style in AHL

The Blackhawks were outscored 77-47 when defenseman Kevin Korchinski was on the ice last season.

Regardless of the reasons behind those numbers, that’s 77 times in which a shift ended in the worst-case scenario. That translated into a lot of negative feedback, and Korchinski became increasingly risk-averse, simply trying to survive — rather than thrive — each shift.

In the AHL with Rockford this season, the Hawks want Korchinski, 20, to unlearn that behavior. They drafted him because of his dynamic offensive skills and bold playing style, knowing that some breakdowns and defensive deficiencies — which hopefully will improve over time — would come with that package. They want him to rediscover that approach.

‘‘[It’s] about trying to get back to how I know I can play,’’ Korchinski said last week. ‘‘I’m trying to create more and be more confident with the puck and take a few extra seconds to make the right play. [It’s about] less trying to get by, more trying to make a difference.’’

Rockford coach Anders Sorensen and Hawks hockey-operations adviser Brian Campbell, a former Stanley Cup-winning defenseman who has become the front office’s jack of all trades, have been giving him frequent advice.

Unlike in the NHL last season, however, no healthy scratches or playing-time reductions accompany that advice. This is an unusual one-step-back development trajectory for Korchinski — one made necessary because he was ineligible for the minor leagues last season — but the Hawks are optimistic it’ll work out well for him in the long term.

‘‘It helps him that it’s a development league,’’ Sorensen said. ‘‘He knows that even if there are some minor setbacks during the game, he’s still going to get back on the ice.’’

There have been some setbacks, of course. Korchinski, whom the Hawks drafted No. 7 overall in 2022, already has been on the ice for 23 goals against, the most on the team. He also has been on the ice for 18 goals for, tied for second-most on the team (behind forward prospect Frank Nazar).

That ratio isn’t ideal, but Sorensen said Korchinski’s analytics are ‘‘not as harsh,’’ and the Hawks also have accepted that his presence on the ice inevitably leads to high-event hockey. With his hair grown out and his jersey flapping when he blazes down the ice, Korchinski certainly looks the part.

‘‘Obviously, you don’t want to take any dumb risks, but it’s more about not just making the safe play,’’ Korchinski said with a grin. ‘‘I know I can make plays out there, so go ahead and make them. It’s no risk if you make the play, you could say.’’

That said, Sorensen and Campbell are trying to improve Korchinski’s defensive acumen. Hawks coach Luke Richardson mentioned several times last season that Korchinski’s world-class skating ability actually makes his positioning harder to maintain because any small movement causes him to drift a relatively sizable distance.

Sorensen’s solution for that is an approach he calls ‘‘quiet feet.’’

‘‘He is such a good skater and wants to help out the team and do so well that he ends up overworking in certain situations,’’ Sorensen said. ‘‘[He’s] realizing that you’re better off being in a good spot defensively and being good support for your teammates.’’

Said Korchinski: ‘‘[I’m working on] not chasing out to the corner, being too aggressive and trying to kill the play all by yourself. It’s about trusting our structure and trusting that outside shots aren’t going to hurt us. We can block them, front them or box out. [I’m] just trying to limit the high-danger chances.’’

He lives in Rockford with forward prospects Samuel Savoie and Gavin Hayes, and Savoie is going home with him to Saskatchewan for Christmas.

That arrangement, combined with the AHL’s weekend-heavy schedule, makes Korchinski feel ‘‘like we’re in college.’’ At his age, however, that might be exactly what he needs.