Analyzing the Golden Knights Future Stars
By Evan Mead
#4: Kaedan Korczak, RHD, Henderson Silver Knights
Kaedan Korczak is currently my fourth ranked Vegas Golden Knights prospect. Having already made his NHL debut, we’ve already got a look at his talent. However, without a bigger sample size there are things you definitely don’t know.
Age: 21
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 192 lbs.
Hand: Right
Drafted: 2nd Round Draft pick in 2019 by the Vegas Golden Knights
Breakdown
Kaedan Korczak is one of the better defensive prospects in the Golden Knights system. Well, actually I think it’s completely fair to say that he is the best defensive defenseman prospect in the Knights system.
Korczak who was drafted by the Vegas Golden Knights in the second-round in the 2019 NHL entry draft, has made a name for himself due to his size and strength. He plays strong in the defensive zone, attacks the puck well, and isn’t afraid of a challenge. He’ll go after anybody and everybody in order to get the puck and enforce pain on the other team.
Korczak uses his size to fill space, disrupt passes, and backcheck. However, the thing that I think stands out to the Golden Knights the most is his willingness to drop the gloves and protect his teammates. Which, is definitely something the Knights are lacking. The Golden Knights currently don’t really have an enforcer. That’s something that I feel would give the Knights an edge.
However, to every good thing there is always bad and the thing that need’s to be talked about is Korczak’s lacking offensive talent.
The current day NHL doesn’t quite revolve around stay-at-home defenseman like it used to. The league has altered to a two-way game which means the front office and coaches expect offensive production from all positions. Well, obviously that excludes goalie unless your Pekka Rinne and like to take to shot attempts when facing an empty-net. But the Knights don’t have that.
The lack of production only stims from his time with the Henderson Silver Knights in the AHL. When he was in the WHL, he actually had seasons with the Kelowna Rockets that he was very productive.
In the 2018-19 season Korczak played in 68 games for the Kelowna Rockets and had four goals and 29 assists for a total of 33 points. Which, is considered pretty good given his style of play. However, his next stint with the Rockets was even better.
In the 2019-20 season Korczak played in 60 games for the Rockets. In those 60 games he had 11 goals and 38 assists for a total of 49 points. Furthermore, he had a +/- of +7.
Now, those numbers aren’t really all that great, but that’s not his style. He’s a defensive defenseman that shows the potential to be a good third-paring defenseman.