Last week, the Chicago Blackhawks assigned defenseman Sam Rinzel to their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs. This was after Rinzel started the year with the Blackhawks, where he recorded one goal, seven assists, eight points and an even plus/minus rating in 28 games.
With Rinzel being a young defenseman with great potential, there was no real harm in the Blackhawks sending him to the AHL. The Original Six club is hoping Rinzel gains confidence with the IceHogs, and there’s no doubt he’s impressing early on with the AHL club.
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In three games with the IceHogs since his ejection, Rinzel has recorded four assists and a plus-1 rating. This led him to put together back-to-back two-assist games against the Iowa Wild on December 10 and the Milwaukee Admirals on December 12. With that, Rinzel is certainly making an impact early on with the IceHogs.
The Blackhawks now hope Rinzel continues to shine with the IceHogs in the AHL. If he does, it wouldn’t be at all surprising if he receives a call-up to the Blackhawks roster in the near future.
