Kaedan Korczak

Kaedan Korczak (born January 29, 2001) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who is a defenceman for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted by the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2019 NHL entry draft after spending four seasons with the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League (WHL).

Growing up Yorkton, Saskatchewan, Korczak played minor hockey for the Yorkton Terriers and Yorkton Maulers. He spent two years with the Maulers before joining the Rockets from 2017 to 2021. Korczak also represented Canada at the 2018 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and 2021 World Junior Championships.

Early life Korczak was born on January 29, 2001, in Yorkton, Saskatchewan, Canada, to Chad and Tricia Korczak. His American-born father played NCAA Division I collegiate hockey for the University of Illinois Chicago and Michigan Tech.

Playing career

Junior Growing up in Saskatchewan, Korczak played peewee hockey for the Yorkton Terriers in the Saskatchewan AA Hockey League. He then competed in the Saskatchewan Male U18 AAA Hockey League (SMAAAHL) for the Yorkton Maulers despite still having bantam eligibility. After recording 15 points through 42 games in the 2015–16 season, Korczak was drafted in the first round of the 2016 Western Hockey League (WHL) Bantam Draft by the Kelowna Rockets.

Korczak returned to the Maulers for the 2016–17 season and recorded 29 points over 42 games. He also played four regular-season games for the Rockets as an affiliate player. He helped the Maulers advance to the second round of the 2017 SMAAAHL playoffs by scoring a hat-trick in Game 4 against the Notre Dame Hounds. At the time, he led the team with three goals and two assists for five points through four games. After the Maulers were eliminated from playoff content, Korczak was again called up to the WHL and played in five playoff games. He was eventually selected in the second round, 41st overall, by the Vegas Golden Knights. He signed a three-year entry-level contract with Vegas on December 21, 2019, after recording 28 points with the Rockets through 32 games. He finished the season with a career-high 11 goals and 38 assists and received the team's Top Defenceman Award.

Professional After participating in the Golden Knights' training camp, Korczak was reassigned to their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Henderson Silver Knights, for the shortened 2020–21 season. He made his AHL debut on February 12, 2021, against the Bakersfield Condors and recorded his first AHL point the following night, also against the Condors. Korczak was reassigned to the Rockets on March 11, 2021, after playing in nine games for the Silver Knights.

Korczak blocked one shot in 16:37 minutes of ice time in his NHL debut on February 1, 2022, against the Buffalo Sabres.

Korczak recorded his first NHL point, an assist, in his season debut with the Knights on January 2, 2023, against the Colorado Avalanche. While skating alongside Brayden McNabb, he also recorded three shots on net while skating in 15:30 minutes of ice time.

Korczak then scored his first NHL goal on October 18, 2023, against the Dallas Stars. Following the 2023–24 season, Korczak signed a two-year $1.65 million contract extension to remain with Knights on July 2, 2024. Korczak made his Stanley Cup playoff debut on May 6, 2025, playing 13 minutes in a 4–2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers in game 1 of the second round.

On July 2, 2025, Korczak signed a four-year extension with Vegas, keeping him with the team through the 2029–30 season. However, only a year later, on June 30, 2026, Korczak was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Parker Wotherspoon.

International play

Korczak made his international debut with Canada Black at the 2017 World U-17 Hockey Challenge, recording one point in five games. He then appeared for the Canadian under-18 team in the 2018 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and 2019 IIHF World U18 Championships. He won a silver medal with Canada at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championships.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 2016–17 Kelowna Rockets WHL 4 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 2017–18 Kelowna Rockets WHL 67 3 13 16 44 4 1 3 4 0 2018–19 Kelowna Rockets WHL 68 4 29 33 64 — — — — — 2019–20 Kelowna Rockets WHL 60 11 38 49 27 — — — — — 2020–21 Kelowna Rockets WHL 15 3 5 8 23 — — — — — 2020–21 Henderson Silver Knights AHL 11 0 2 2 8 5 1 0 1 0 2021–22 Henderson Silver Knights AHL 47 2 12 14 28 2 0 0 0 12 2021–22 Vegas Golden Knights NHL 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 2022–23 Henderson Silver Knights AHL 50 4 10 14 60 — — — — — 2022–23 Vegas Golden Knights NHL 10 0 2 2 0 — — — — — 2023–24 Vegas Golden Knights NHL 26 1 8 9 8 — — — — — 2023–24 Henderson Silver Knights AHL 26 1 8 9 28 — — — — — 2024–25 Vegas Golden Knights NHL 40 0 10 10 2 1 0 0 0 0 2025–26 Vegas Golden Knights NHL 78 3 13 16 26 13 0 3 3 0 NHL totals 155 4 33 37 36 14 0 3 3 0

International Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM 2017 Canada Black U17 7th 5 0 1 1 2 2018 Canada HG18 5 0 3 3 8 2019 Canada U18 4th 7 0 1 1 4 2021 Canada WJC 7 0 1 1 2Junior totals 24 0 6 6 16