The Chicago Blackhawks have recalled defenseman Kevin Korchinski and goaltender Drew Commesso, per Charlie Roumeliotis of Chicago’s WGN Radio. The duo will assist fill in for beginning goaltender Petr Mrazek and top-four defender Alec Martinez. Each gamers left Chicago’s Saturday recreation early with harm – Mrazek after getting his legs swept from underneath him, and Martines after a deflected shot discovered its approach underneath his visor. Roumeliotis provides that Mrazek has been moved to injured reserve with a left-groin harm.
With Martinez becoming a member of high Hawks defender Seth Jones on the checklist of accidents, Chicago will give high prospect Korchinski one other probability to determine an NHL position. The 20-year-old spent everything of final season on the NHL roster amid a extreme lack of protection depth. He recorded 5 objectives, 15 factors and a -39 in 76 video games – prompting Chicago to begin him within the minors this 12 months. That’s confirmed the fitting transfer early on, with Korchinski main Rockford IceHogs defenseman in scoring with two objectives and 11 factors in 21 video games. He’s served a top-line position for Rockford and appears to be gaining increasingly confidence on the puck, with routine highlights displaying him driving play from finish to finish.
This call-up doubtless received’t assure Korchinski minutes. He’ll need to first earn a task over Nolan Allan and Wyatt Kaiser – assuming Chicago doesn’t play any of their defenders on their off-hand. Allan has confirmed a stout fill-in amid accidents, with 4 assists and a -5 by 20 video games this season. Kaiser has been far much less productive, boasting only one help, 14 penalty minutes, and a -1 in 25 video games. Korchisnki’s scoring upside may very well be sufficient to earn minutes, however he’ll doubtless need to rapidly make the most of the alternatives he’s offered.
Commesso has spent the final two seasons splitting begins in Rockford. He discovered his approach into the position of de facto starter final 12 months – his first skilled season – getting into 38 video games and recording 18 wins and a .906 save proportion. He narrowly beat out Jaxson Stauber in ice time and save proportion – with Stauber posting a .902 in 31 video games – however Commesso hasn’t discovered the identical success this 12 months. He’s misplaced the bulk share of begins to three-year professional Mitchell Weeks, who has a .901 save proportion in 12 begins to Commesso’s .879 in 10 begins. Each netminders have 4 wins.
Mrazek’s pressured week-long absence ought to give Commesso an opportunity to earn his NHL debut. In the meantime, Rockford has recalled ECHL starter Benjamin Gaudreau to assist assist the AHL lineup in Commesso’s absence. Gaudreau – one other high goalie prospect in his draft 12 months – has set a 5-5-2 file and .907 save proportion in his first 12 professional video games this season.
