We continue to look for ways for the Tampa Bay Lightning to improve in the 2026-27 season here at Bolts by the Bay. There aren't a lot of answers in free agency--thoughbuy-low candidates like Patrik Laine may make a ton of sense up front--and there probably isn't much coming from a prospect pipeline that has been mostly bled dry by continuous pushes for another Stanley Cup with this core group.
Some NHL teams may have the luxury of waiting for the right opportunity to develop during the regular season, but the Lightning simply doesn't have time to waste. The Atlantic Division took a massive step around them last year, and there's no reason to expect the Florida Panthers to be as devastated by injuries as they were in 2025-26.
As such, Julien BriseBois will have to look at options such as Kevin Korchinski, who many pundits believe could be traded by the Chicago Blackhawks this summer.
Lightning could develop Kevin Korchinski in ways the Blackhawks haven't been able to
The 'Hawks aren't going to give the former seventh-overall pick away, even after squandering his development over the last few years. There would likely be a dozen or more suitors for Korchinski, which may nudge Tampa Bay out of the conversation altogether. BriseBois is known for his ability to extract a lot of excess value in his trades, though, and we haven't really seen the same ability from his Blackhawks counterpart in Kyle Davidson.
While this version of Chicago hasn't shown an ability to develop talent in-house--outside of all-World talent like Connor Bedard--the Lightning don't have to look too far into the rearview to see the best-case scenario for Korchinski.
This organization helped mold Darren Raddysh into the top available free agent of this entire class. They have shown an ability to help players reach their potential, and the 21-year-old still has plenty of time and room to grow.
Kevin Korchinski's skill set a good fit for the Lightning's left side
We'll see how the Lightning approach this offseason, and if there is still a misguided desire to be tougher to play against, then talking about the idea of adding Korchinski is moot. If BriseBois changes course and is looking to add more skill, then the Blackhawks should be one of his first calls.
Korchinski, when he is confident and at his best, is outstanding in transition. He's fleet-footed and possesses excellent on-ice vision in the offensive zone. Like most 21-year-old defenseman with that skillset, he still needs to work on his game in the defensive zone, but the Lightning have proven capable of sheltering defenders like him by pairing him with more steady d-zone defenders.
Ryan McDonagh is currently on the second pairing, and he'll turn 37 in mid-June. He's a favorite of the Lightning franchise, but he won't be able to play a top-four role forever. Landing someone like Korchinski could bridge the gap between the older members of the core group.
If the Lightning can manage to hang onto Raddysh, and if they can swing a trade for a young, up-and-coming power-play quarterback like Korchinski, then suddenly they have one of the more mobile defensive units in the Eastern Conference. There would be a tremendous amount of breakout ability between Raddysh, Korchinski and J.J. Moser, and it's something worth considering for BriseBois as he tries to keep Tampa Bay relevant.
It's either overpay for Korchinski or someone of his ilk, or overpay for a veteran like Jacob Trouba in free agency. The preference should be pretty clear for the Lightning.
Add us as a preferred source on Google