PuckSleuth
6

Pittsburgh Penguins · Defense · Shoots R

Kaedan Korczak

Age 25 · 6'3" · 206 lb · Born in Yorkton, CAN

Cap hit

$3.25M

3.1% of $104M cap

Term

4 yrs

Through 2029-30, then UFA

Clause

None

Surplus value

+$792K

vs. $4.042M market estimate

Confirmed by the public signing announcement · source

2026-27 regular season

GP

1

Goals

0

0.0% shooting

Assists

2

1 primary

Points

2

2.00 per game

TOI/GP

18:31

PP 0:00 · PK 2:40

xGF%

90.3

5v5, +34.6 vs. last yr

Game Score

+0.43

per game, goals above average

Faceoff %

—

Plus/minus

+3

Blocks 2 · Hits 1

Game log

Last 5 games · NHL API

GameGASOGHITBLKTOIPPPKFOOZS%GVTK+/-GS
Sep 30
@ PHI · W 7-0
0231218:310:002:40—6700+3+0.43
Jun 14
vs CAR · L 3-0
0000013:580:000:00—0000-0.05
May 26
vs COL · W 2-1
0002011:280:000:00—10010+1+0.09
May 24
vs COL · W 5-3
020119:380:040:00—6700+2+0.13
May 22
@ COL · W 3-1
0001211:130:000:00—75100+0.05

GS = our Game Score, goals above average. FO = faceoffs won-lost. OZS% = share of his 5v5 offensive and defensive zone faceoff starts that were in the offensive zone. GV/TK = giveaways/takeaways.

Advanced metrics

5v5 unless noted · 2025-26 · 1,169 min · percentile vs. NHL defensemen

xGF%55.7%

88th percentile

Relative xGF%+2.1

71st percentile

HDCF%64.1%

98th percentile

CF%51.4%

70th percentile

Relative CF%-0.7

48th percentile

FF%52.1%

77th percentile

GF%53.7%

73rd percentile

CF/6055.8

48th percentile

CA/6052.7

85th percentile

ixG/600.16

34th percentile

Goals above expected-0.2

44th percentile

IPP29.4%

30th percentile

PDO100.0

48th percentile

OZS%52.0%

73rd percentile

xGF% is his team's share of 5v5 expected goals while he was on the ice, from our own expected goals model; HDCF% counts only high-danger chances (xG of 0.15 or more). IPP is the share of his team's 5v5 goals while he was on the ice that he scored or assisted on. Relative stats compare him with his team when he was off the ice. Goals above expected and ixG/60 use his own shots at all strengths. PDO and OZS% describe luck and deployment, so their bars are grey.

Play styleDefensive, physical defenseman

Trait percentiles vs. NHL defensemen · 2025-26

Korczak is a rugged, hard-hitting defender with strong defensive instincts and above-average physical play who excels at shutting down opponents. His puck handling lags significantly, limiting his ability to transition play and jump into the rush.

physical presencedefensive anchorlimited playmaker
Shooting volume
22
Playmaking
52
Zone entries(est.)
31
Forechecking
55
Physicality
77
Defensive impact
79
Puck management
3
Speed
49

Where he shoots from

Slot 15% · Mid-range 27% · Perimeter 58%(93 unblocked shots)

Strengths

  • Defensive impact in the 79th percentile shows excellent positioning and gap control
  • Physicality ranks 77th, bringing consistent edge play and body positioning
  • Forechecking in the 55th percentile supports strong below-the-goal-line work

Watch-outs

  • Puck management at 3rd percentile severely hampers his ability to move the puck cleanly
  • Shooting volume in 22nd percentile indicates he rarely initiates offense
  • Zone entries in 31st percentile shows difficulty generating rushing plays

Similar style: Ian Cole (CHI), Jayden Struble (MTL)

Built from play-by-play, shift data, and NHL EDGE tracking. Zone entries is an estimate (rush chances while he is on the ice) until tracking data is added.

Where his Game Score comes from

2025-26 · 78 GP · goals above average

Season total +0.4 goals, or +0.01 per game.

Even strength offense
+0.2
Even strength defense
+1.8
Penalty kill
+0.2
Finishing
-0.1
Playmaking
-0.6
Penalties
-0.9

Game Score adds up a player's impact in goals compared with an average player given the same ice time: his share of expected goals for and against at even strength, on the power play, and on the penalty kill, plus finishing (goals minus expected goals), primary assists, penalties drawn and taken, and faceoffs. Goalies are measured by goals saved above expected.

By season

Regular season

SeasonTeamGPGAP+/-SOGTOI/GPFO%GS/GP
2026-27PIT1022+3318:31—+0.43
2025-26VGK7831316+66015:58—+0.01
2024-25VGK4001010+153415:04—+0.01
2023-24VGK26189+123216:30—-0.01
2022-23VGK10022-31617:34—+0.02

Sentiment & chatter

Fans

—

Beat writers

—

Media

—

Fan, beat writer, and media scores, the 14-day trade chatter chart, and the latest mentions appear once sentiment scoring is switched on. Mentions are already being collected.

Age curve

NHL defensemen · production index

202937

At 25, defensemen typically produce 100% of their peak (age 24). His contract runs through age 28, when the typical level is 95%.

From 24 seasons of NHL results, adjusted for league scoring and save percentage in each era. Shaded bars are the seasons left on his contract.

Skating · NHL EDGE

2026-27, as of Oct 2

Top speed
19.4 mph
40th pct
20+ mph bursts
0
Hardest shot
72.2 mph
23rd pct
Distance
2.7 mi
OZ time
46.3%
86th pct
DZ time
37.7%