Blackhawks prospects Sam Rinzel, Oliver Moore sign contracts, will make NHL debuts soon
Blackhawks prospects Sam Rinzel and Oliver Moore didn't wait too long to sign NHL contracts after their sophomore seasons at the University of Minnesota ended.
Rinzel and Moore officially turned pro Saturday, a source confirmed. They are expected to make their NHL debuts soon — possibly Sunday against Utah or Wednesday against Colorado. Their college season ended Thursday with a loss in the NCAA Tournament.
The Hawks have nine games left in the regular season, enough for both players to get at least a taste of the NHL. It's similar to what Frank Nazar and Landon Slaggert got at the end of last season, although Nazar played a lot fewer games (three) and Slaggert a lot more (16).
Rinzel was the Big Ten's defensive player of the year and one of the best defensemen in all of college hockey. The Hawks drafted him 25th overall in 2022 knowing he was a long-term project prospect, and their patience has paid off — not that his development is yet complete.
"This curve that he’s on, we felt very strongly that he would hit an upswing once he got his feet under him and a little more development time in games, and we’ve certainly seen that," Hawks general manager Kyle Davidson said in February. "The strength, the confidence, the ability with the puck — it’s all coming into one. He’s always been a big guy that can skate with some pretty raw tools, and now he’s really putting that whole package together.
"He’s trusting that first read, and his hockey IQ is allowing him to make quick plays and be decisive on the ice. If he sees a passing lane, he hits it. If he sees an opportunity to skate, he takes it. Being assertive in his own ability and his own decision-making is something that has really taken a step this year."
Moore, the 19th pick in 2023, was one of the fastest forwards in college hockey. His production didn't explode as expected this season — he tallied 33 points in 38 games, the exact same point total as last season — but Davidson thought bad luck was part of that. Moore's skill set may, in a way, be better-suited for the pro game than the college game.
"He’s got this great package with his pace of play, his relentless pursuit of the puck, his ability to transition the puck up the ice quickly and create offense with his feet and skill," Davidson said.
This story will be updated.