Explore the Chicago Blackhawks’ promising defensive core anchored by Sam Rinzel and Alex Vlasic in this season’s exciting lineup.
Apr 6, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Sam Rinzel (6), defenseman Alex Vlasic (72) and Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Kevin Hayes (13) battle for control of the puck during the second period at United Center.
Photo Credit: Talia Sprague-Imagn Images
The Chicago Blackhawks’ promise of an exciting defensive core begins with Sam Rinzel. With an average age of 23, Chicago’s defense will be one of the youngest in the league. Sam Rinzel sparked excitement in fans during his debut at the end of last season. Now it’s time for Rinzel to play an entire season, all of its ups and downs, all of the trials and successes. And Alex Vlasic is the perfect partner to guide him through the NHL. Here’s the Blackhawks’ projected first defensive pair.
Alex Vlasic
Alex Vlasic filled big shoes after the Blackhawks traded Seth Jones. Vlasic accumulated over 1900 minutes of ice time across all 82 games. Before the Seth Jones trade, the Blackhawks had a 2.80 expected goals against rate with Vlasic on the ice. After March 1, that rose to 2.89 xGA/60. This is because once Jones was gone, Vlasic was called upon to play as the No. 1 defenseman. Fatigue built up. Poor defensive partners, like TJ Brodie, pitted Vlasic against the toughest minutes in the league.
Seth Jones missed 14 games from November 20 to December 21 due to an ankle injury, giving Vlasic the opportunity to play as the Blackhawks’ 1D. He averaged 24:32 a night and had a 2.31 xGA/60. This was early in the season and a small test of what Vlasic could be capable of. Vlasic came into the season wanting to improve his offense. While he improved from 16 to 30 points, his 5-on-5 expected goals rate dropped from 2.17 to 2.06.
Alex Vlasic’s DZ exits vs. turnovers from AllTheeZones.com
Alex Vlasic continued to thrive as a shutdown defenseman. He led the team in exits with possession per 60 (10.56) and clears per 60 (4.18). Other NHL players with similar numbers are Noah Dobson, Rasmus Dahlin, Jake Sanderson, and Shea Theodore.
For the majority of the season, Vlasic spent time with defensive liabilities. TJ Brodie, Seth Jones (for as good as he was on offense), and Louis Crevier all added to Vlasic’s challenges on a nightly basis. Rinzel is the perfect partner for him.
Sam Rinzel
Sam Rinzel played a small sample size in the NHL with nine games. It was impressive because Rinzel averaged around 18:25 of 5-on-5 ice time on the first pair as a 20-year-old. Rinzel had his share of defensive mistakes, creating more work for Vlasic. Alex Vlasic’s expected goals against rate rose from 2.79/60 to 2.89/60. But Rinzel’s offensive impact was immediately felt. Vlasic’s expected goals for rate rose from 2.01/60 to 2.52/60; the league average last season was 2.53
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Loved this shift from Rinzel. Bails out Vlasic, awareness in the DZ , communicates, joins the rush, reattacks, and carries into the OZ. pic.twitter.com/JGJfZPUtdE
— Steve Kwiatkowski (@DirtyThird81) April 7, 2025
Rinzel’s skating, successful offensive zone entries, and his ability to read developing plays are what made his debut memorable.
Heading into his 2024-25 NCAA season, questions lingered around his defensive game. He added size and improved his defensive game, proving his improvements with an impressive end to his college career. He led all Big 10 defensemen in goals and points.
Sam Rinzel’s offensive instinct, coupled with Vlasic’s defensive acumen, has the potential to be a dynamic first pair on the Blackhawks.
The Pairing
Both players are excellent skaters. Alex Vlasic has displayed his speed with end-to-end carries, but he hasn’t finished. And that’s fine, his job is to defend. Rinzel surprised with his controlled offensive zone carries by taking the puck deep in the zone. Vlasic is equipped with the tools necessary to defend should Rinzel turn the puck over, which will happen.
We still don’t know what system Jeff Blashill will run. We do know that Blashill prefers conservative decisions, although he is ok with letting players like Mortiz Seider play their style. Will Blashill be ok with Rinzel pinching deep in the offensive zone? Will he let Rinzel play as a fourth forward on the breakout?
Alex Vlasic has displayed his incredible stretch pass in the past. If Rinzel is allowed to take risks on the breakout, this pairing will be dangerous.
Vlasic allowed 3.87 entries/60 that resulted in scoring chances, just at league average. With Rinzel on his pair, we can expect Vlasic to face a similar workload. Allowing Rinzel to play aggressively on offense will open the Blackhawks to more rushes against. And Alex Vlasic is the best defenseman on the Blackhawks to anchor Rinzel.
What’s On Tap Next?
Rinzel projects to be a top-four defenseman in the NHL, and his debut only scratches the surface of “what could be.” Pairing him with a young defensive-minded player like Alex Vlasic is how Blashill will find out if Rinzel truly has top-pair potential, or if he settles in the middle pair. Next, we’ll look at potential middle pairs on the Blackhawks, including a player who could be a legitimate number one defenseman.
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