Confidence seems to be a problem for unlocking Rinzel’s offensive upside since the 2025-26 started. Although no one expected he would become a fantasy stud this early, he has gone in the opposite direction far enough that he has left a few Fantasy Managers disappointed. It is, however, extremely important to remember Rinzel turns 22 in June and his tools provide him a great foundation for growth in the years to come. While most expected Rinzel to be a top four defenceman for the Blackhawks in 2025-26, he was sent down to the minors for the nearly three months. He managed to put up 14 points in 23 games while in the AHL before being called back up to the Blackhawks near the trade deadline. Since then, he is averaging around 20 minutes per game with regular power play minutes. The peripherals are getting more consistent for Rinzel but he has not found offensive success yet. Rinzel will likely benefit from off-season conditioning and the Blackhawks maturing as a group, so do not be surprised if he gets the spark he needs during training camp to become a half a point per game fantasy asset in 2026-27. He could be a very sneaky buy-low candidate for impatient fantasy managers in Dynasty formats.

Sam Rinzel’s size, skating, and puck-moving ability has given him the foundation to become a strong NHL defenseman. That skill set has positioned him as the top power-play option (over Levshunov) thus far in the season, giving him prime opportunities alongside Bedard and Nazar, a dream fantasy setup if he can lock down that role for the rest of the season. Keep in mind that Chicago may switch Rinzel and Levshunov consistently to keep them both in a positive game however Rinzel’s short-term ceiling is moderate, yet his upside as a steady, multi-category contributor as an offensive catalyst makes him a worthwhile long-term option.

Sam Rinzel has finished his time with the University of Minnesota, where he played 40 games and posted 10 goals and 22 assists during the 2024-25 season. He remains an intriguing long-term project for the Blackhawks. His size and mobility provide a strong foundation, but he is still refining his defensive reads and working to develop more physical strength. Rinzel’s offensive instincts have always been an asset, and he continues to impress with his puck-moving ability. Rinzel, much like Oliver Moore, signed an ELC with Chicago and was called up to play his first game with the Blackhawks on March 30, 2025, and finished the 2024-25 campaign playing nine NHL games, recording five assists.

Rinzel had a decent year in the USHL with the Waterloo Black Hawks, posting nine goals and 27 assists over 58 games. He will be moving on to play with the University of Minnesota this upcoming 2023-2024 season. He has taken positive strides in his game with increased power play and time on ice of over a minute on average from his previous season. There are no surprises here with Rinzel not making the jump to the NHL, because he still needs time to further develop. As he consistently gains the trust of his team and coach, his confidence will hopefully continue to increase.

Rinzel was drafted straight out of Chaska High School in Minnesota. He will continue to play in the USHL with the Waterloo Black Hawks and attend the University of Minnesota next year. Most scouts believe that Rinzel looks to be the most NHL-ready defenseman coming straight out of high school, which is obviously not going to happen. For the best interest of the club and Rinzel, it makes sense for him to go to the University of Minnesota and further develop his skills. At this age and size, he is an above-average skater with great offensive potential. His defensive flaw is that he does not hit as much as he should, but that may come with time as he gets older and puts on more weight. The timeline for Rinzel is still three to four years away as such, there is no expectation for him to jump to the next level until he is ready.