Kaedan Korczak tends to go unnoticed by the Vegas Golden Knights. He's a young defenseman who won't score too many goals. However, he'll deliver sticky defense and forecheck as well as anyone. That's what makes the latest Rotowire study interesting.
Korczak was the Golden Knights representative for a list comprised of underrated players from each team. Currently, the young blue liner has two goals and an assist for the Golden Knights, making him one of the more undervalued names around.
To qualify, players had to meet these conditions:
- Forwards and defensemen only
- Not on a rookie contract
- Cap hit of $3.0M or less
- At least 15 games played as of December 3, 2025
Looking at Korczak, he fits all these perfectly. He just got a new deal during the summer and currently makes $825,000. According to the study, his value lies at $515,000, making him even more underappreciated.
Korczak also has 44 blocked shots and 47 hits in 28 games this season, adding a defensive edge to the Golden Knights. It's no wonder that Bruce Cassidy has had a liking for the youngster this season. He even bumped the 24-year-old to the second line.
Why Kaedan Korczak matters for the Vegas Golden Knights
Last season, Korczak stepped in perfectly in an extra defenseman role for the Golden Knights. He had 10 assists in 40 games, along with 40 blocked shots and 59 hits. He's already surpassed his blocked shot total and is on his way to also surpassing his hit total.
That matters for a multitude of reasons. First, he's developing and adapting as a hockey player. Korczak has had no trouble with taking on the full-time role bestowed upon him in 2025-26. He's thrived in a larger role by getting involved in puck battles and clogging lanes.
Of course, this is the Cassidy standard we're talking about here. You must be able to flow like a butterfly throughout the two-way system and make plays on all 200 feet of the ice. Otherwise, you'll be put deep in his doghouse for being a naughty dog.
Luckily, Korczak's the type of guy to make that happen. We're not just talking about being a solid defender, though. He's also viable offensively, as proven by his 10 assists last season. He also has a Fenwick below 50% in one season, which would be his first campaign with the Golden Knights (2021-22). Here, he only played *drumroll, please*...
...One game. The goal here should be just to play him for more than one game. That way, he can be efficient and valuable.
The Golden Knights are getting tremendous value with the 24-year-old on the blue line. He's proven valuable on both ends, creating plays and disrupting the flow against opposing teams. That could help him shed the vaunted "underrated" label and make him properly rated as a solid blue liner.