Daily Faceoff is a news site with no direct affiliation to the NHL, or NHLPA

Sam Rinzel News

Chicago Blackhawks
Sam Rinzel
Age: 22Position: D
TOI Ovr
71%
Fantasy Ovr
42%
Fantasy Positional Rank
Goals
16%
Assists
20%
Power-Play
43%
SOG
25%
Plus/Minus
39%
Hits
45%
Powered by
5V5 Hockey
Last 3 Seasons Weighted
This Season Projection

Percentiles are based on a three-year weighted average of Fantasy Hockey Standard League Scoring Settings. Percentiles represent the players rank among his respective position.

Rinzel will draw back into Chicago's lineup vs. St. Louis on Tuesday.

The Blackhawks defense has struggled early in the 2026-27 season, so they opted to make 22-year-old Rinzel a healthy scratch in their previous game. He is averaging 17:53 time-on-ice and has a -2 plus/minus through two games. Kevin Korchinski will be a healthy scratch to accommodate Rinzel's return to the lineup.

Sam Rinzel
Rinzel (illness) is expected to return in Winnipeg on Tuesday.

Rinzel has missed the last two games due to an illness, but should draw back into the lineup on Tuesday against the Winnipeg Jets. The 21-year-old Rinzel is averaging 17:16 time-on-ice and has 10 points (2G / 8A) in 32 games this season. He has seen a steep uptick in deployment since his most recent recall from the AHL, averaging 22:22 time-on-ice and scoring two points (1G / 1A) in four games.

Sam Rinzel
Rinzel has been assigned to Rockford (AHL).

Rinzel was drafted 25th overall by the Blackhawks in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft and was believed to be a candidate for the Calder Trophy before the start of the season. The talented 21-year-old defenseman got off to a hot start, with three points (1G / 2A) in his first seven games, but has struggled since, with only five in his last 21 (0G / 5A). He has been reassigned to Rockford (AHL) to play a more prominent role and hopefully gain some confidence before returning.

Sam Rinzel
Rinzel will draw back into Chicago's lineup vs. Calgary on Tuesday.

For the first time this season, Rinzel was a healthy scratch, but he will return to the lineup on Tuesday against the Calgary Flames. The 21-year-old defenseman started the season on the team's top powerplay unit, a role which has since been taken over by Artyom Levshunov.

Sam Rinzel