The Chicago Blackhawks are once again relying on a developmental strategy that has already paid off once this season. After watching rookie defenseman Artyom Levshunov take a significant leap following a brief healthy scratch earlier this fall, the Hawks have now applied that same reset approach to fellow rookie Sam Rinzel. Rinzel, who entered the season with huge expectations, had been showing signs of struggle in recent games, and the coaching staff felt this was the right time to help him regroup.
Rinzel was scratched in Saturday’s matchup against the Toronto Maple Leafs, a move designed not as punishment but as a chance for him to mentally reset and study the game from a higher vantage point. The Blackhawks believe the pause will help him return sharper, more aware, and more confident. And according to head coach Jeff Blashill, Rinzel is already set to rejoin the lineup as the seventh defenseman on Tuesday against the Calgary Flames.
A mental reset to spark growth
Nov 9, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Sam Rinzel (6) handles the puck behind the net during the second period against the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bradshaw Sevald-Imagn Images
Artyom Levshunov’s early-season turnaround set the blueprint for how the Chicago Blackhawks want to support their young defensemen. Levshunov struggled out of the gate but responded strongly after sitting out as a healthy scratch. His performance against the Maple Leafs last weekend was arguably his best yet in the NHL, a sign that the tough-love approach was working.
For Sam Rinzel, the pattern is similar. The 21-year-old showed early-season inconsistency, improved significantly over a nine-game stretch, and then began slipping again. Instead of letting the downward trend continue, Blashill stepped in with intentional guidance.
“Sometimes as a coach, you sit a guy to give him a chance to take a breath, regroup, and re-attack it,” Blashill said. “He has shown he’s a great defenseman in this league… We just need him to get back to that level.”
Rinzel admitted he knows he needs to be better:
“I’ve got to be better in a couple areas of the ice that I know I’m actually relatively good at. I’ve been in these little lulls before in my life. I know my game — when I’m playing well — is confident and I’m making plays.”
The statistics reflect his ups and downs. During five-on-five action, Rinzel’s scoring-chance ratio fluctuated from 34% up to 52.5% and then down to 31.4% across different stretches of his 17 games. His ice time also dropped from an average of nearly 20 minutes to just 11:29 in his most recent outing. Losing his spot on the top power-play unit, now led by Levshunov, has also impacted his usage.
The Blackhawks aren’t questioning Rinzel’s talent. Instead, they’re helping him refine his awareness. Coaches want him to recognize dangerous situations quicker, especially when the play turns the other way.
One glaring example came against Seattle on November 3rd. A neutral-zone turnover from Frank Nazar became costly when Rinzel skated past a loose puck, turning it into an avoidable two-on-one rush. Situations like these are why Blashill wants Rinzel to think defensively first when plays develop:
“I have to make sure I’m the fifth guy. I have to make sure I’m behind him. I can’t hang in there hoping we keep the puck, because the next thing you know, it’s a breakaway the other way.”
High expectations, normal growing pains
Nov 1, 2025; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Chicago Blackhawks defensemen Sam Rinzel (6) follows the play against the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images
Sam Rinzel came into the season carrying sky-high expectations, some fair, some not. His impressive nine-game tryout last April had many believing he could step right in as the Chicago Blackhawks’ No. 1 defenseman and even compete for the Calder Trophy in 2025–26.
But reality is different. He’s only 21, still developing physically, and has just 26 NHL games to his name. It’s natural for young defensemen to struggle, perhaps even more than forwards, because their mistakes often lead directly to scoring chances against.
The encouraging news for the Hawks is Rinzel’s attitude. Blashill praised him for handling adversity well:
“Some of these guys are crazy hard on themselves, whereas he’s got a pretty positive outlook and moves on to the next day.”
Rinzel’s role for now will be more controlled, likely as the seventh defenseman, allowing him to rebuild confidence without the pressure of top-pair minutes.
If the Levshunov example is any indication, this reset could be precisely what Rinzel needs to get back on an upward trajectory. The Blackhawks are committed to patience, and Rinzel remains a key piece of their long-term vision.
With Chicago focused on developing its young core, helping Rinzel steady his game is essential, and this might be the first step in helping him become the defenseman many expect him to be.
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