Sam Rinzel developing into defenseman Blackhawks envisioned: ‘Just scratching the surface'

New York Times

20-02-2025

Three years ago, Sam Rinzel looked like this in the USHL.
Two years ago, he looked like this in the same league.
One year ago, he looked like this in college.
And now, this season, he looks like this.
Those weren't Rinzel's best plays each season, but they give you a sense of where his game, body and mentality were at.
Now, let's look back to the 2022 NHL Draft. This was Chicago Blackhawks director of amateur scouting Mike Doneghey after drafting Rinzel:
'And then Sam, you know we've watched Sam in every venue,' Doneghey said. 'We watched Sam at the Ivan Hlinka last year, which he was ultimately picked to represent the U.S. We watched him at the Elite League. We watched him in high school. And it was just, there was so much to like because of his frame. And his skating ability is smooth and high end. Needs to put on some weight. Confident he'll do it. … So he's more on the longer path, like he'll play in Waterloo this year, then he'll go to Minnesota. But there's just so much to mold with him. But the good pieces are there — the skating, the size, the right shot.'
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From the moment the Blackhawks took him with the No. 25 pick in that draft, they understood he needed two things if he was going to someday be an NHL player for them. For one, he needed time. He had played mostly high school hockey up to that point and didn't have the reps or the experience playing at a high level. It could be four or five years before he could be truly assessed. Secondly, he needed to add weight and muscle. What he already possessed in his skill set was unique, but it was only going to take him so far. He needed a larger frame to elevate his game to another level.
The Blackhawks had been pleased with Rinzel's development over his first two seasons as their prospect. He looked less raw, more refined. Returning to the USHL after being drafted seemed to be the right move. He was more prepared for college when he first entered Minnesota and took another step last season. The weight was still the biggest hurdle, but he was moving in the right direction.
That all changed this past offseason. Finally, Rinzel's body began taking to all the protein shakes he was putting into it. The weight arrived, and he put in the work to make it muscle under the guidance of the Blackhawks' and the Golden Gophers' strength staff. Rinzel put on a solid 10-plus pounds in the offseason, making him 6-foot-4 and 190 pounds.
When he returned to the ice as a sophomore, he was a different player. He could stand his ground defending in front of the net. He didn't get pushed over battling for pucks in the corner. He withstood contact and held onto pucks longer. His confidence followed along. He was more assertive. He jumped into plays knowing he could win pucks back.
'The big stride for him was what he did in the offseason,' Minnesota coach Bob Motzko said. 'The players that we deal with, they're all different shapes and sizes, but they're boys. They're not men yet. That's the greatest thing we got going. We're working with these talented young players who are going from boy to man strength. It's just how genetics work. Some come sooner and some take time. The great thing for him is he's got great genetics and it's coming. And then you watch as more confidence grows in his game. Fearless to make plays with the puck. We're just scratching the surface. He's got a whole 'nother level to hit yet. That's what's exciting when you look at these young players, you know they're going to get even better.'
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Rinzel felt those physical differences, too.
'Just getting kind of faster, bigger, stronger is a huge part of it,' said Rinzel, who turns 21 in June. 'I think it just overall kind of brings out confidence in yourself, feel a little confident in corners, kind of able to slow things down knowing that I can use my body, kind of feel like that strength is there. I think obviously my skating. I feel faster and I can pull away from guys a little bit more. With my reach, I think that's a big thing, just kind of stemming from skating.'
Everyone swears they envisioned this for Rinzel. To them, none of what Rinzel is doing — from having 25 points in 32 games to being a Hobey Baker Award nominee — is surprising.
'There was no way it was a long shot,' Motzko said. 'When you recruit a player like that, we have great expectations and high visions. Because one, he had the long, athletic body and great skating ability, but he was raw. You just saw what he was going to grow into. You got to know him, you knew he was going to do the work off the ice and let his body mature. Time is his great friend right now because he's growing into that long, lean body and getting stronger. It's been an incredible climb for him when we were watching him in high school hockey to where he is three, four years later. Is he exceeding? I'm not sure. I think we had very high hopes for him to become just a big-time player for us.'
Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson's answer wasn't much different.
'No, I think it's what we were hoping,' Davidson said. 'Sam was the target player for us. And he was someone that we had a ton of interest in that draft. And so, we had high expectations, high beliefs for what he could become based on his skill set and his tools. I was really excited about getting him at the time, and I knew he was going to be a little bit of a longer-track prospect. And we're really seeing him take some big strides here this year. He had a really strong year last year, but he just looks like a totally different player again this year, and I think that comes with growing into his skill set, growing into his body and then just a ton of confidence. He's done a great job preparing himself to keep making those strides.'
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As for Rinzel, he was always confident in himself, too.
'Totally,' Rinzel said. 'I was always a late bloomer growing up, whatever it is. I always knew what my abilities were. Obviously strength and growing into my body was a big part of that kind of process. I always knew what my abilities were, was always confident in what I could do. I think it's kind of learning along the way and kind of going through the process.'
Where that process continues is a decision Rinzel will have to make after this season. The Blackhawks are expected to offer him a contract as soon as Rinzel's college season ends and provide him the chance to play in the NHL this season. That doesn't guarantee Rinzel will be in the NHL next season, but the Blackhawks think he's ready for at least the AHL. Motzko believes Rinzel could benefit from another season in college.
'I stand on all players that when they're ready, they're ready, but most players need that time to develop,' Motzko said. 'One percent of the players that go in the National Hockey League are ready at young ages. Most of the players are around the ages of 21, 22 when they start to come into where they can physically help teams succeed at a high level. It's just too great of a track record of players staying three and four years that have had great success. It's just the one percent of players that leave early. I don't believe any player should leave to go to the American Hockey League if they're underclassmen.'
Rinzel knows the decision is ahead, but he's trying to focus on the present.
'Obviously it's mentally challenging trying to handle all that on your plate,' Rinzel said. 'Just living in the moment. I want to be where my feet are. Right now, it's at the U. It's hard to think in the future so much like that. Obviously my goal is to win a national championship here. That's kind of what I'm focused on and whatever happens, happens. For sure, just want to try to block out whatever noise that will come into your head. Just trying to play my best hockey for our team is super important.'
So far, so good.