PUBLICATION
Sam Walker
February 3, 2026 (12:12)
Photo credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
Sam Rinzel is headed back to the Rockford IceHogs, and the Chicago Blackhawks are betting this reset pays off.
Tuesday’s update came via Frank Seravalli, with Rinzel expected to return to Rockford for the Olympic break.
The key detail is the CBA wrinkle; players who’ve been around for most of the season, or 16 of the last 20 games, can’t be sent down just for the break.
So this looks like Chicago moving early, before the paperwork window closes and the roster gets locked in by games played.
Rinzel, 21, is a 2022 first-round pick, 25th overall, drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks.
He was just recalled on January 30 after starting the year with 8 points in 28 NHL games (1-7-8).
Sending him back down does not mean the org is panicking. It means they want him playing, not watching from the press box.
Rinzel already had a Rockford stint after Chicago assigned him on December 8.
Sam Rinzel and Chicago Blackhawks choose reps over vibes
Hawks fans are exhausted by the yo-yo, but nobody wants a 21-year-old learning NHL pace from the bench.
For Rinzel, Rockford is where he can grab 22 minutes, touch the puck on every breakout, and run the man advantage without looking over his shoulder.
That’s the real value of this move, live reps on reads at the offensive blue line, and faster decisions on the first pass.
It also keeps the NHL blue line cleaner for the coaches, fewer “who sits tonight” headaches if they want a steady six.
Contract-wise, it’s painless, he’s waiver-exempt, and an AHL assignment is an easy lever to pull when you’re juggling bodies.
When the schedule resumes after the Olympic break, this could flip again fast, especially if Chicago needs a right-shot puck mover.
For now, it’s simple, get Rinzel playing real minutes, then see what the next Blackhawks blue-line puzzle demands.
Previously on Chicago Hockey Insider
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Chicago Blackhawks sending 21-year-old rookie to the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs
Should the Chicago Blackhawks keep Sam Rinzel with the Rockford IceHogs through the break?