Sam Rinzel: A Diamond in the Blackhawks’ System

A player in the Chicago Blackhawks system getting a lot of buzz is Sam Rinzel. Despite only playing nine games in the NHL, he registered five assists in those appearances, and several reports say he looks to be a massive piece of the Blackhawks’ rebuild.

Mark Lazerus of The Athletic writes: “Nine games later, he was the Blackhawks’ No. 1 defenseman, quarterbacking the top power play, averaging 24 minutes, with fans and pundits penciling him in as a lock for opening night and the 15 or so opening nights that will follow.”

His size—along with being a right-handed, right-side defenseman—makes him a gem in the Blackhawks’ prospect pool, which also includes the likes of Nolan Allan, Artyom Levshunov, Wyatt Kaiser, and perhaps their most trusted young defenseman, Alex Vlasic.

How Did We Get Here with Rinzel

Sam Rinzel was drafted 25th overall in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft from the University of Minnesota, where he registered 79 games played, 12 goals, and 48 assists for 60 points in two NCAA seasons as a defenseman—no small feat. With his call-up to the NHL at the end of last season, he did nothing but impress. Lazerus adds, “He never played fewer than 20 minutes in those first nine NHL games, quickly ascending the depth chart.”