Rinzel, Sam #6 (D) - Chicago Blackhawks - 2026 Playoffs
Height: 6'4''
Weight: 194 lbs.
Shoots: R
Born on: June 25, 2004
Age: 21
Birthplace: Chanhassen, None
Salary: $0.950M
Cap Hit: $0.942M
NHL.com: Go

Statistics - 2026 Playoffs

GP GM G A Pts +/- PIM PPG PPA SHG SHA GWG S Hits Blks SPCT P/G
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Date News Advice
April 15, 2026 Rinzel scored a goal and went plus-2 in Wednesday's 5-2 win over the Sharks. - Rinzel tallied at 19:30 of the second period to get the Blackhawks on the board. They carried the momentum into the final frame and rallied ahead for the win. The goal ended a 12-game point drought for Rinzel, who didn't have the breakout season many expected heading into the year. He concludes 2025-26 with four goals, 14 points, 83 shots on net, 49 hits, 63 blocked shots, 44 PIM and a minus-7 rating over 54 appearances. He did see top-four minutes down the stretch even amid his slump, so Rinzel should have the edge over some of the Blackhawks' other young defense prospects for a roster spot to begin 2026-27. None
March 9, 2026 Rinzel scored a goal on two shots and blocked two shots in Sunday's 4-3 overtime loss to the Stars. - Rinzel has two points over his last three games. The 21-year-old defenseman is settling back into a top-four role after the Blackhawks traded away Connor Murphy to Edmonton, opening the door for a youth movement on the blue line. Rinzel has three goals, 12 points, 58 shots on net, 40 blocked shots, 28 hits and 36 PIM over 35 appearances this season. None
March 4, 2026 Rinzel logged an assist, three shots on goal and two PIM in Tuesday's 3-2 overtime loss to the Jets. - Rinzel missed the previous two games due to an illness. While listed on the third pairing, the defenseman was at 22:19 of ice time in the Blackhawks' first game sans Connor Murphy. That trade will open up ice time for Rinzel, who should be capable of playing a decent shutdown game while also chipping in offense. He has 11 points, 54 shots on net, 37 blocked shots, 34 PIM, 28 hits and an even plus-minus rating over 33 NHL appearances this season. None
March 3, 2026 Rinzel (illness) is expected to play against Winnipeg on Tuesday, according to Jack Bushman of Chicago Hockey Now. - After missing the last two games, Rinzel participated in Tuesday's morning skate on the third pairing. However, he should reclaim his role on Chicago's top power-play unit. Rinzel has earned two goals, 10 points, 51 shots on net, 37 blocked shots and 28 hits in 32 NHL games this season. None
March 1, 2026 Rinzel (illness) is a game-time decision for Sunday's game against the Mammoth, Scott Powers of The Athletic reports. - Rinzel missed Saturday's game against the Avalanche due to an illness, an ailment that has him as a game-time decision for Sunday against the Mammoth. The 21-year-old has 10 points (two goals, eight assists) in 32 games on the season. He'll likely draw in for Kevin Korchinski, if he plays. None
Feb. 28, 2026 Rinzel (illness) won't play against Colorado on Saturday, Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times reports. - Rinzel has one goal and one assist in the past three games. He has provided two goals, 10 points, 51 shots on net, 37 blocked shots and 28 hits in 32 NHL outings this season. Kevin Korchinski will replace Rinzel in Saturday's lineup. None
Feb. 18, 2026 Rinzel was recalled by Chicago on Wednesday. - Wyatt Kaiser (lower body) was put on injured reserve, and Kevin Korchinski was summoned from the minors in corresponding moves. Rinzel has two goals, nine points, 30 PIM, 48 shots, 28 hits and 36 blocks in 31 outings in 2025-26. Rinzel might be in the lineup when Chicago's schedule resumes Thursday in Nashville, especially after Kaiser was placed on IR. However, Korchinski is competing with Rinzel for the same spot. None
Feb. 5, 2026 Rinzel was reassigned to AHL Rockford on Thursday. - Rinzel potted a goal in his recent three-game stint with Chicago, averaging 22:52 of ice time. Overall, the 21-year-old has two goals, seven assists, 28 hits and 36 blocked shots over 31 NHL appearances this season. Rinzel should be recalled when the NHL returns to action after the Olympic break. None
Feb. 3, 2026 Rinzel scored a goal on three shots and added two PIM in Monday's 6-3 win over the Sharks. - Rinzel is getting a chance to play in a top-four role and on the power play while Artyom Levshunov sits out to work on his skills outside of game action. This was Rinzel's second game back in the lineup after he was demoted to AHL Rockford in early December. The 21-year-old is up to two goals, nine points, 45 shots on net, 33 blocked shots, 26 hits and 30 PIM over 30 appearances in the NHL this season. It's unclear if Rinzel will hold onto a regular role following the Olympic break, though he may be able to down the stretch if the Blackhawks deal away defensemen at the deadline. None
Jan. 30, 2026 Rinzel was promoted from AHL Rockford on Friday. - Rinzel will likely provide some emergency coverage for the Hawks' blue line, which currently only has six defensemen on the roster. In 28 appearances for Chicago this season, the 21-year-old blueliner has generated one goal on 39 shots, seven assists and 26 hits while averaging 16:32 of ice time. None
Dec. 20, 2025 Rinzel had three assists in AHL Rockford's 7-3 win over Manitoba on Saturday. - Rinzel's getting his groove back in the AHL, and it's going well so far. He's racked up seven helpers and nine shots on net, as well as a plus-1 rating, over four appearances. Rinzel seems likely to get another look with the big club this year, though it may take another blueliner needing a stint in the minors for him to earn a call-up. None
Dec. 8, 2025 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. None
Nov. 22, 2025 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. None
Nov. 19, 2025 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. None
Oct. 12, 2025 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. None
April 16, 2025 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. None
April 6, 2025 Rinzel notched an assist, two shots on goal and a plus-2 rating in Sunday's 3-1 win over the Penguins. - Rinzel needed four games to earn his first NHL point. The 20-year-old defenseman has immediately stepped into a top-pairing role alongside Alec Vlasic. Rinzel has added 11 shots on net, seven hits, three blocked shots and a plus-2 rating over his four contests since signing out of the University of Minnesota, where he had 32 points in 40 contests as a sophomore this season. None

No Injuries found

No suspensions found

No Upcoming Games found

No Games found

No Corrections found
Date Key Old Value New Value
2026-03-02 Injury Status OUT DAY-TO-DAY
2026-03-01 Injury Status DAY-TO-DAY OUT
2026-03-01 Injury Status OUT DAY-TO-DAY
2026-02-28 Injury Status OUT
2026-02-28 Injury Text Illness
2026-02-28 Injured No Yes
2025-10-10 Weight 177 lb 194 lb
2025-09-25 prospect No Yes
2025-09-25 injury_note
2025-09-25 analysis
2025-09-25 update
2025-09-03 Salary Cap Hit $0.000M $0.942M
2025-09-03 Salary $0.000M $0.950M
2025-09-03 Pickable No Yes
2025-08-29 Weight None lb 177 lb
2025-06-24 Active in League No Yes
2025-06-24 Franchise 2025 2025 Chicago Blackhawks