Like the UFA targets. I'd be surprised if Nazar starts the season in the NHL. And I'd put Kaiser on 3rd pair and let Korchinski spend a year in Rockford learning how to play D.

Jets buyout schmidt or trade him elsewhere he isn't that much of a negative asset. Jets also keep Toffoli so that's 2 things that need updating alone.

I could see the hawks starting Korch in the NHL, if he hasn't improved considerably putting him in the AHL for a month or two to learn the more physical pace, but a whole year is probably counterintuitive.

Right now he's Boqvist 2.0. The similarities are eerily similar. Korch has floundered all year in the D zone. Same mistakes repeated over and over. He seems totally lost in his own end. To think he's going to get "better" over the summer not playing games is a pipedream. How is it counterintuitive to send a 20 y.o. player to the AHL to learn how to play his position when he is so obviously over his head at the NHL level. He wasn't a good defender last season in the WHL. Not surprisingly, that has carried over to the NHL this season. He obviously needs to learn how to play defense. The NHL isn't the place to learn that.

1. The physical aspect of the Game is one limiting factor for him. Good training can help him become physically stronger.

2. I suggested a brief stint in the AHL if he continues to struggle. The AHL for an entire season seems like it would do more to hurt his confidence than help it.

The difference between the Boqvist situation and this is that Boqvist was put out there on a team was expecting to make the playoffs - he was given no room for error. Players dont properly develop if the message is "you cant make mistakes" because then they never learn from them. So unless its really effecting his confidence I'm fine with KK learning in the NHL because theres no pressure for the team to win games or for him to excel yet. That said, if theres enough NHL caliber dmen added to the roster in the offseason then I can see the logic in sending him to rockford for a temporary stint to get 25+ mins a night.

Good luck keeping toffoli if you dont sell off schmidt. Jets are gonna have a tough time keeping any of their deadline rentals with perfetti demelo and dillon needing new deals.