Rinzel was demoted to AHL Rockford on Monday, Charlie Roumeliotis of WGN Radio reports.
Rinzel is currently stuck in a five-game point drought, during which he has generated a meager six shots on goal to go with five hits and two blocked shots. The move leaves the Blackhawks without a seventh defenseman, so it's possible the team will bring somebody else up from the minors ahead of Wednesday's game versus the Rangers. That move could be for Kevin Korchinski, who leads the IceHogs in blue-line production.
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Blackhawks' Sam Rinzel: Manages two assists in loss
Rotowire
Rinzel recorded two assists, three blocked shots and a minus-3 rating in Friday's 9-3 loss to the Sabres.
Rinzel has three helpers over three games since he was made a healthy scratch last Saturday versus the Maple Leafs. The 21-year-old blueliner has operated as the Blackhawks' seventh defenseman, resulting in a large drop in ice time from where he was at early in the season. He's up to six points, 29 shots on net, 26 blocked shots, 18 hits, 22 PIM and a plus-2 rating through 20 appearances. Rinzel has the talent to play a larger role, but he'll need to string together some good performances to stake a claim to more ice time.
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Blackhawks' Sam Rinzel: Hands out helper
Rotowire
Rinzel notched an assist, 10 PIM and a plus-2 rating in Tuesday's 5-2 win over the Flames.
The helper snapped a 10-game point drought for Rinzel, who was a healthy scratch Saturday versus the Maple Leafs. The 21-year-old defenseman started the season as a top-pairing option, but he's now operating as the seventh blueliner when the Blackhawks choose to dress seven defensemen. Fantasy managers who were banking on Rinzel being the next big thing will either have to be patient or look for a replacement, as his current role isn't fantasy-friendly. He's at four points, 27 shots on net, 18 hits, 22 blocked shots, 22 PIM and a plus-4 rating over 18 appearances, and he still has plenty of long-term appeal for managers in dynasty formats.
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Blackhawks' Sam Rinzel: Nets first NHL goal
Rotowire
Rinzel scored a goal on two shots and blocked three shots in Saturday's 3-2 loss to the Canadiens.
The second-period tally was Rinzel's first point of the season and the first goal of his NHL career. This was his 12th appearance, and he's quickly established himself as one of the Blackhawks' top blueliners. Through three outings this year, he's picked up a goal, five shots on net, seven blocked shots and a minus-1 rating while skating with Alex Vlasic on the top pairing.
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Blackhawks' Sam Rinzel: Adds power-play assist Tuesday
Rotowire
Rinzel notched a power-play assist and two shots on goal in Tuesday's 4-3 overtime win over the Senators.
Rinzel hit the ground running at the NHL level, earning five assists over his first nine games. His last three helpers came on the power play. The 20-year-old University of Minnesota product should have an inside track to an NHL job, including top-four minutes and power-play time, to begin 2025-26. Fantasy managers in redraft formats should consider him a sleeper option -- if he quarterbacks the top power-play unit, he'll get enough offense to be useful.
