Sam Rinzel Prospect Write-up
- David Buckley
- Sep 26
- 5 min read
In the ever-evolving landscape of Chicago Blackhawks hockey, few prospects have rocketed up the ranks as quickly as Sam Rinzel. Drafted 25th overall in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, the 21-year-old right-shot defenseman from Chanhassen, Minnesota, has transformed from a toolsy college standout into the franchise's top prospect heading into the 2025-26 season. What was once a "middle of the pack" projection has evolved into visions of a top-pairing blueliner, power-play quarterback, all while outpacing more highly touted peers on the depth chart. As the Blackhawks continue their rebuild around Connor Bedard, Rinzel's meteoric rise positions him as a key piece in their defensive puzzle, a fantasy darling for the upcoming campaign, with massive dynasty upside, and sneaky redraft appeal.
Rinzel's journey began in the USHL with the Waterloo Black Hawks, where he honed his elite skating, puck-moving skills as an 18-year-old in 2021-22, posting 7 goals, 29 assists in 57 games. That offensive flair carried over to the University of Minnesota, where he spent two seasons in the Big Ten. In his freshman year (2022-23), he tallied 2 goals, 10 assists in 36 games, showing promise but still adjusting to the college grind.
The 2023-24 sophomore campaign marked a breakout, with Rinzel exploding for 8 goals, 22 assists in 38 games, earning All-Big Ten Second Team honors, helping the Golden Gophers reach the NCAA Frozen Four. He signed his entry-level contract with Chicago shortly after, signaling the Blackhawks' confidence in his readiness for pro hockey. In the minors, primarily his NCAA stint, Rinzel looked every bit the dynamic, two-way defender scouts raved about at the draft: a 6-foot-4 frame with speed to burn, a booming shot from the point, the vision to quarterback rushes. His plus-18 rating in 2023-24 underscored his defensive growth, proving he could handle top competition without sacrificing offense. He capped his college career in 2024-25 with another strong showing, 10 goals, 22 assists, 32 points in 40 games, blending offense, physicality.
Rinzel's pro debut came at the tail end of the 2024-25 season, when the Blackhawks called him up from Minnesota for nine games. Far from being sheltered, he earned a robust 23:22 per night, a hefty workload for a rookie, showcasing his immediate impact with zero goals, five assists, five points total, a plus-1 rating. Those five helpers all came in his final three games, showing quick adaptation to NHL pace. More telling were the peripherals: 22 shots on goal, 12 hits, highlighting his willingness to engage physically, fire pucks from everywhere, contribute in multi-category formats right away.
Defensively, he held his own in that small sample, his skating neutralized forechecks effectively. It was a glimpse of what Chicago could expect: a mobile, offensive-minded defender who doesn't shy from the grind. While the stats scream "decent" in a microcosm, zero goals but five assists, plus-1, 22 SOG, 12 hits, Rinzel's poise, significant ice time earned him trust from coaches, setting the stage for a full-time NHL role in 2025-26.
(Highlights from Rinzel's few games of NHL action showing edge work and vision)
What sets Rinzel apart in Chicago's prospect pool is how he's leapfrogged more pedigreed names to secure a top-four, potentially top-pair, role, especially after Seth Jones' March 2025 trade to the Florida Panthers for goaltender Spencer Knight, a conditional first-round pick. That move cleared cap space, ice time on the right side, accelerating Rinzel's path. Artyom Levshunov, the No. 2 overall pick in 2024, was expected to dominate the right side, but Rinzel's NHL audition, training camp dominance have him slotted ahead. In recent rankings, Rinzel sits at No. 1 overall among Blackhawks prospects, ahead of Levshunov (No. 3), forwards like Anton Frondell (No. 2). Among other defensemen prospects, he outranks Kevin Korchinski (No. 6 overall, a 2022 first-rounder with 92 NHL games but inconsistent play, 0 goals, 7 assists in 72 games last season), Ethan Del Mastro (undrafted but steady AHL contributor, 1 goal, 15 assists in 64 NHL games over two years, more sheltering needed), Nolan Allan (2021 second-round pick, solid two-way game in AHL but just 2 NHL games, lower offensive ceiling at 5 goals, 20 assists in minors). Rinzel's size, skating, shot give him the edge in projections for immediate impact, top-pair potential by midseason.
Projections paint Rinzel as the Blackhawks' power-play quarterback of the future, perhaps the present. In his nine NHL games, he quarterbacked his own unit, racking up seven shot attempts (four on net) in his debut alone. By game two, he was entrenched on the top unit, feeding Connor Bedard, the forwards with pinpoint passes from the point. NHL.com forecasts 45 points for him in 2025-26, with a chunk coming on the man advantage, where his rocket shot, distribution skills could unlock Bedard's sniper potential.
For fantasy managers, Rinzel is a sleeper no more, he's a must-draft gem in both categories (cat), bangers leagues, with dynasty value that screams future stud, sneaky redraft potential as an overlooked late-round flier. His ADP hovers around 193, but that undervalues a player who averaged 2.44 shots per game, 1.33 hits in his NHL taste, while blocking shots at a clip that screams multi-cat value. Compared to peers like Korchinski (fewer hits, SOG in NHL), Del Mastro (safer but lower volume), Rinzel edges out in hits, shots on goal, power-play production, making him a superior target for leagues rewarding physicality volume.
In bangers formats, his physical tools (190-pound frame, aggressive gap control) project 150+ hits, 100+ blocks alongside 40-50 points. Cat leaguers get the full package: elite SOG (projected 180+), peripheral robustness, PP1 upside. As ESPN's "plant my flag" picks note, Rinzel's buzz could see him owned in 50% of leagues by midseason. In dynasty setups, he's a blue-chip asset, with his rapid ascent suggesting 60+ point seasons in his prime as Bedard's PP partner, think a younger version of Noah Dobson with more brawn. For redrafts, he's that sneaky value pick: undervalued due to his rookie status, but poised to outperform his draft slot with top-four minutes, PP1 time right out of the gate. Stash him early, watch him deliver category-spanning returns.
Sam Rinzel, a 6’4”, 195 lbs right-shot defenseman for the Chicago Blackhawks, mirrors Noah Dobson (6’4”, 200 lbs, right-shot) as a tall, mobile, puck-moving defenseman with strong offensive instincts. Both excel in transitions, leveraging smooth skating, crisp passing, and rush-joining flair to drive play, while relying on positioning and stickwork defensively rather than heavy physicality; Rinzel’s long reach matches Dobson’s ability to disrupt plays with active stickwork. Rinzel’s 32 points in 40 NCAA games (2024-25) and 5 assists in 9 NHL games (2024-25) reflect offensive potential akin to Dobson’s junior-to-pro growth, with Dobson producing consistent 40-50 point seasons (e.g., 49 points in 2022-23) and peaking at 70 points (2023-24) in a top-four role with the New York Islanders. Having made the Blackhawks’ roster with a projected top-four role, Rinzel could approach Dobson’s reliable, power-play-capable output (40-50 points) by his mid-20s, though his defensive reads remain raw compared to Dobson’s more polished two-way game.
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