SAM RINZEL

2025-05-22

Scout: Craig Wise

Skating:

Average, top end speed is lacking but he makes up for it with good edgework. He is able to transition and maintain speed on the edges, but when it comes to puck races he wont be winning them.

Passing/Handling:

Slightly above average puck handling, he makes the odd move along the blueline to fake out a defender but isn't going to dazzle the crowd with moves.

Shooting:

Below average, he does well getting the puck through opposing shin pads but rarely on net or any challenge for the goalie.

IQ (Vision, Anticipation, Panic/Poise):

Above average, very low panic meter. Controls the puck with his head up and usually finds the best outlet pass.

Forechecking:

NA

Defense:

Very solid defensive game, uses his big body to rub guys out and control the front of the net. The odd time he did get caught watching the puck and the offender was able to walk him. This will be something easy to correct at the next level.

Best Asset:

His defensive game and calmness when controlling the puck looking for outlet passes.

Biggest Concern:

Lack of any meaningful fantasy points.

Top Tier/Role Potential:

Tier 2 if he can translate any sort of offense he could be a 50 point guy with average perfs.

Justification for Top Tier Assessment:

He was top PP in NCAA and top PP in Chicago for the short stint at the end of the season. Most likely from lack of other options, but it does show a little bit of hope.

50th Percentile Tier/Role:

Tier 3 35-40 points and average perfs.

Justification for 50th Percentile Tier Assessment:

He has top 4 defenceman written all over him, lucking into points will come with the amount of minutes he will be playing.

Stylistic Comparable:

Jake Mccabe, very solid top 4 defenceman but modest points.

Scouts Final Thoughts and Additional Stats/Info:

Games Scouted:

St Thomas, Ohio State and Ottawa

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2024-06-19

Scout: Austin Kelly

Skating:

He's a fast paced skater with a good burst. Quick first step but at times he'll just move the puck down the ice and not worry about speed if he doesn't have to, which is a good tool. Very natural skating stride and does well at keeping puck control, good transition puck moving. Not overly crafty in his skating but the fundamentals are strong.

Passing/Handling:

Good playmaker who sees the ice well. Patient and is able to wait to find the right man. Transition puck carrying is a strength. His passing is good more than it is great, but a lot stronger than expected.

Shooting:

Seems Rinzel has really come into his own as a shooter. There's a lot more confidence in taking chances and hitting shots he'd usually defer on in the past. He's still not scoring a ton and a lot of it seems to be in relation to accuracy issues. A lot of wide shots or not enough juice. There's some positives in taking those shots, but you'd like to see him get better at connecting. If he can't, his offense may just be limited to playmaking.

IQ (Vision, Anticipation, Panic/Poise):

Rinzel has good hockey sense. He knows how to speed up and slow down pace and does well controlling himself with the puck. He has a good panic meter, he reacts well to rush chances and loose pucks.

Forechecking:

Has some decent forechecking, an active stick game. He uses his body more than his stick but he's shown he can shut down opponents without needing to be physical.

Defense:

Rinzel does show some good shutdown ability. He's physical and engaged in his own end, but doesn't have the dominance you'd expect from a 6'4 defenseman.

Best Asset:

One thing about Rinzel's game is that he's not trying to wow like some other players. He's quick when he needs to be, shoots when he needs to, passes when he needs to. He doesn't do things to be flashy, he's smart and calculated in how he plays in each shift. He's very mature in his tools. His hockey sense looks to be very translatable long-term. He may not be NHL ready just yet, but he may surprise with how quickly he progresses from the AHL to NHL.

Biggest Concern:

He's still not getting much goals despite being more comfortable as a shooter.

He can get knocked down a bit as well. Yes, he's young, but he does need to bulk up more. For his size and as a potential shutdown defender and 6'4, you'd want him at around 190 minimum. Right now he's at 175-180 depending where you check.

Top Tier/Role Potential:

Best case scenario seems to be a 2/3D. Tier 2 defender. Potential 10/45/55 player at best. 45-50 more likely scenarios.

Justification for Top Tier Assessment:

He doesn't have the offensive dominance and creation to be a 1D, but should be able to play on the top-four given his IQ and two-way potential. Possible he's on the first line for a team if he is able to get to about 200lbs, but you're likely putting him in a shutdown role then, but there's value in the offense too. There's positivity in how well he's handled going from HS to a top NCAA role in two years.

50th Percentile Tier/Role:

Tier 3. If the scoring doesn't come, realistic potential of a 5/25/30 player who anchors the second line.

Justification for 50th Percentile Tier Assessment:

Despite having some decent scoring looks, Rinzel has struggled in getting goals. He may just be a playmaker at the NHL level, which may make him lean more as a second liner. Adding to his frame will be necessary to in terms of projection.

Stylistic Comparable:

There is some similarity to Brock Faber, who took a while to mature his game before the NHL. Rinzel probably isn't on Faber's level, but could potentially have a similar early breakout.

Scouts Final Thoughts and Additional Stats/Info:

Rinzel was a very "off the board" pick for Chicago, who traded up for Rinzel. After this season, it's a clear lesson to trust the scouts. Could be a long-term partner for one of Korchinski/Del Mastro in the NHL, perhaps Rinzel could be their Seabrook.

Games Scouted:

Sam Rinzel - Minnesota vs Boston U (3/30/24)

Sam Rinzel - Minnesota vs Michigan (3/1/24)