2022 NHL Draft Prospect Profile: Sam Rinzel
The Chicago Blackhawks need more high end skill in their system, and Sam Rinzel has one of the higher upsides in the 2022 NHL Draft. Should they take him?
Most of the players that I have profiled so far have fit a similar criteria. They’re fast, hard to play against and they generally have higher floors. Sam Rinzel is a little different because while he is a great skater, his floor is low but his ceiling is very high.
Strengths & Weaknesses:
Rinzel is a 6’4” and 181-pound right-handed defenseman who split time between Chaska High School and the Waterloo Black Hawks this year. He also played for the United States at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup last August.
His game is built around his raw tools. As mentioned above, he’s 6’4” and he’s a fantastic skater for his size (fluid, mobile, strong on his skates). It’s also worth mentioning that he is great in transition and can make some plays in the offensive zone. His potential is very high in my opinion.
The main question with Rinzel is his floor. His defensive game is questionable at times due to his gap control and defensive reads. He also needs to add more muscle to his frame at only 181 pounds. It’s clear that Rinzel will need time to develop, and should not be rushed.
Statistical Profile:
Rinzel had a solid season in terms of offensive production. He was 5th in goals (nine), 1st in assists (29) and 2nd in total points (38) on his high school team. He was also T-15th in points-per-game (1.41) amongst USHS-MN defensemen. In the USHL, he was 5th in points-per-game (0.48) amongst U18 defensemen.
Rinzel doesn’t grade out too well in terms of NHLe, but NHLe is based on point-scoring and equivalency to the NHL and becoming a star. Rinzel didn’t light either the USHS-MN or USHL on fire in terms of points, so I’m not surprised his NHLe is low. (If you want to read more about Patrick’s NHLe model, what it is, and how he created it, click here).
Where Is He Ranked?
The 18-year-old is mostly ranked in the early second round by NHL Draft rankings. Most of them have him in the late 30s to early 50s. So he should be right in the Hawks range at pick #38.
What Others Are Saying:
“Rinzel is a very good skater for a player his size and has an innate ability to get pucks up ice with some incredible skill and vision. What he has in physical tools, though, he lacks in the hockey sense department. I think he just needs time and experience to make better reads and quicker decisions. He might have some of the highest upside of any defenseman in this draft, though, as a 6-foot-4, right-shot defenseman that can skate.”
“He is a big offensive defenseman who will be well and truly imposing once he fills out his frame. Rinzel also knows how to use his physicality, he clears the net-front effectively, likes to go for a big hit when he has the option to, and uses his strength and length to protect the puck. And it’s with the puck when his value really shines. Rinzel is deceptive and skilled; when carrying the puck up ice, he easily gets around the first defender, and in the offensive zone, he can create high-danger chances when he chooses to activate.”
“He’s 6-foot-4, skates quite well for a man his size, and has offensive skill. He’s quite dangerous in transition due to his reach and speed and is able to create offense off the rush. He’s not a true playmaker but shows some flashes in that regard. Defensively he’s solid due to his physical assets although he’s not overly physical.”
Film/Video:
Potential & Should The Hawks Draft Him?
Sam Rinzel is a very intriguing and polarizing player. I really love his raw tools (size, skating, offensive ability, transition game), and I believe that he has a high ceiling. I think he has a legitimate chance to be a #3 defenseman at the NHL level, but if he isn’t developed correctly he probably won’t make it to the show.
I personally believe that Rinzel will be available at #38, but I would be surprised if the Hawks took him. He’s a risk, and I don’t know if Kyle Davidson wants his first draft pick to be that risky. I wouldn’t mind Rinzel at #38 because of his upside, but I also don’t know if I fully trust the Blackhawks to develop him correctly.
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