Chicago Blackhawks Roundtable
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Sam Rinzel And Oliver Moore Are Free To Sign With Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks are a young team looking to take a step in their rebuild. That means getting even younger by bringing in more of the talent that they have within the organization.
More good prospects may be joining the pro mix after a huge upset took place in college. Defenseman Sam Rinzel and forward Oliver Moore are now free to sign with the Blackhawks, as Minnesota was stunningly beaten in overtime by UMass.
Both Moore and Rinzel had an assist in the game but Minnesota was unable to find that extra goal when the game reached sudden death.
Rinzel’s season ends with 10 goals and 22 assists for 32 points in 40 games played. If he does sign his pro deal, his collegiate career ends with 12 goals, 48 assists, and 60 points in 79 games. For being a great defender on the back end, that’s great production.
As for Moore, his season ends with 12 goals and 21 assists for 33 points in 38 games played. If his college career is over, he’ll leave Minnesota with 21 goals, 45 assists, and 66 points. His speed was on full display there, and it will give him a chance to be successful as a pro.
Both Rinzel and Moore are former first round picks who are likely going to be NHL contributors. Moore looks more like a middle-six forward who can play in all situations because of his speed. Rinzel looks like he is a number two defenseman at minimum with the ceiling of a number one star player.
The Blackhawks only have a handful of games remaining, so the clock is ticking on getting them signed. We’ll see how long it takes to make any decisions.
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Top 2 Tiers of UFA Forwards Blackhawks Must Target
The longer the Chicago Blackhawks suffer at the bottom of the standings, the worse it gets for some of the young players like Connor Bedard who is already at a higher level and is ready to start getting in the mix of a playoff chase. That being said, there has to be some upgrades externally. That is what is going to take this team with a lot of young and talented players to the next level.
The additions like Teuvo Teravainen, Tyler Bertuzzi, and even Ilya Mikheyev have done well for the Blackhawks, and there is lots more cap space to go use this summer, even factoring in that some of the young players will have to be paid.
Chicago needs to land at least one of the free agent forwards this summer in the top two tiers of UFAs. Let's dive deeper.
Mitch Marner is in a league of his own in terms of being the top UFA forward this summer after Mikko Rantanen was signed by the Dallas Stars. This means that many teams are going to do what they can to convince and target Marner if he hits free agency. The majority think that Matthew Knies is the player the Toronto Maple Leafs should be prioritizing, and I'm in agreement.
The Blackhawks will be able to take a good run at a UFA Marner as they have the funds, they are an Original Six team, and he will be able to play alongside Bedard. This might incentivize the Blackhawks even more to up the dollar amount and signing bonus to get Bedard a winger like this.
The next tier is interesting, but it also isn't that big. The Blackhawks can't put all of their eggs in one basket as Marner might re-sign in Toronto or go to a different team. If that's the case, Nikolaj Ehlers, Brock Boeser, and Sam Bennett have to be seriously looked at.
Ehlers and Boeser would be top line, top power play right away for the Blackhawks while Bennett would give the team a solid number two centerman behind Bedard. I don't expect Chicago to pull a Nashville and be able to bring in or try to bring in multiple of these players, but one would get things rolling in the right direction.
All three of those forwards will be looking for bigger contracts than what they are currently signed to, but once again, the Blackhawks have the cap space to accommodate. We are patiently waiting for Chicago to take the next step in this new era.
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Five Questions That Blackhawks Must Answer In Final 10 Games
The Chicago Blackhawks have ten games left. At 21-42-9, their playoff chances were gone by the time November started. That’s the reality for a team going through a long, grueling rebuild.
Throughout the season, the Blackhawks have transformed their roster into a young, vibrant group. Many of the top players on the Rockford IceHogs made their way to Chicago to show what they can do at the NHL level.
10 games remaining don’t sound like a lot, but there is plenty of time for the folks in charge to do some last-minute evaluating. These are five questions that they’d like to have answered before they hit the offseason:
Is Connor Bedard a center or a winger?
A lot of what the Chicago Blackhawks do during the summer will depend on their opinion of Connor Bedard. Is he a center or is he a winger? These final 10 games can better help them make that decision.
Is Ryan Donato worth a long-term extension?
The Chicago Blackhawks decided not to take anything for Ryan Donato at the trade deadline. They did not have an extension with him in place when this decision was made, so they ran the risk of losing him for nothing. Is he worth a long-term extension after having an unlikely career year?
What do they have in Kevin Korchinski?
Ahead of their final 10 games, the Blackhawks used their fourth and final non-emergency call-up on Kevin Korchinski. He has had a great season in the AHL, but only time will tell if he can be a star at the NHL level. Chicago will use these final 10 games to evaluate, which should help decide what to do with him in the summer.
Are any college players going to get an NHL showcase?
We have already seen a couple of college players sign with the teams that drafted them. As teams get eliminated from the NCAA tournament, will the Blackhawks consider giving any of them a chance in the NHL before the year is over? A few likely candidates are out there. These final 10 games could get interesting in that regard.
What big splash needs to be made this upcoming summer?
The Chicago Blackhawks have the roster availability and cap space to make a big move or two. What type of splash needs to be made to improve the team in the long term? Is it worth it to throw a lot of money at a player like Mitch Marner? We will know more after these 10 games are done. The answers to the above questions will help answer this one as well.
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Meet The 7 Blackhawks Prospects Who Made The NCAA Tournament
Last Sunday afternoon, the NCAA revealed the bracket of 16 teams that will play for the College Hockey National Championship.
Of the 16 teams that made it, 4 of them have prospects that belong to the Chicago Blackhawks organization. Seven total Chicago drafted players are on those four teams.
Going into the tournament, which begins on Thursday, there is a lot to learn about the players who will represent the Hawks. Each of them has a diverse set of skills that could lead to them being in the NHL one day.
Here are the seven Chicago Blackhawks in the tournament and a little bit about them:
John Mustard - Providence
Providence forward John Mustard was a third-round pick (67th overall) by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2024 NHL Draft out of the Waterloo Blackhawks organization.
Mustard's freshman season saw him play a depth role in Providence. He was good at it and had a role on a team that made it this far. Mustard scored seven goals and had 13 assists for 20 points in 36 games played.
His ceiling in the NHL is probably a middle-six forward who can provide what a team needs in terms of depth. There is a long way for him to go in his college career, however, before anyone can accurately assess what he may become.
Connor Kelly - Providence
Connor Kelly, a defenseman at Providence, was drafted in the seventh round (204th overall) of the 2021 NHL Draft. He is a steady defensive defenseman who has sacrificed offense in college to defend.
In 2024-25, Kelly has one goal and three assists for four points in 36 games played. If Providence wants to win, they must get good play out of Kelly as he will matchup against some high-end offensive talent.
Taige Harding - Providence
Taige Harding, like Connor Kelly, is more of a defensive defenseman on Providence. He was also drafted in the 2021 NHL Draft, but he went in the third round (91st overall).
Harding has put up better numbers in 2024-25 as he has 2 goals and 12 assists for 14 points. If he can bring a little bit of offense and continue to defend well, Providence may have a chance with some of these elder skaters.
Aidan Thompson - Denver
In Aidan Thompson's third season at Denver, he has taken some huge steps. He has had some big tournament moments in the past. That includes winning the National Championship in 2024.
Now, wearing an "A", Thompson has shown leadership both on and off the ice for Denver. He put up a massive season in 2024-25. Thompson enters the tournament with 19 goals and 32 assists for 51 points.
The 2022 third-round (90th overall) pick has developed into a really strong player. Will he be a center or wing in the NHL? That remains to be seen (assuming he makes it one day). Right now, his biggest task is leading Denver to a second straight title.
Ryan Greene - Boston University
Ryan Greene has developed very nicely. He was a second-round pick (57th overall) in the 2022 NHL Draft. Since attending Boston University, his leadership skills have developed rather quickly as he is now the captain of that program.
Greene is not an offensive star, but he plays the game the right way. That will go a long way for him as he attempts to become an NHL regular in the coming years. Green currently has 13 goals and 20 assists for 33 points in 36 games played.
When he gets to the pro game, his hard-working style should be perfect for the bottom-six. There will be some seasoning needed in the AHL, but the NHL is a real possibility for him. He's surrounded by talent at B.U., so we'll see if they're able to reach the Frozen Four.
Oliver Moore - Minnesota
Oliver Moore is a former first-round pick (19th overall) from the 2023 NHL Draft. He hasn't put up the offensive numbers at Minnesota that anyone was hoping for, but he did score 12 goals and have 20 assists for 32 points in 37 games played.
Moore's biggest asset is his speed. He is one of the fastest and best skaters in the organization. That will give him a shot to be a regular in the NHL on its own. If he can use his speed to create chances for himself and teammates, he'll be even more valuable.
Winning seems to follow Moore around, too. Not only is Minnesota one of the best teams in this tournament, but Moore has won back-to-back Gold Medals at the World Junior Championships with Team USA. He has participated in some massive games.
The Blackhawks will enjoy his speed whenever he arrives, but gaining experience in these big games coming up will be great for his development.
Sam Rinzel - Minnesota
The most exciting prospect that the Blackhawks have in this tournament is Sam Rinzel of Minnesota. The young defenseman was a first-round pick (25th overall) in the 2022 NHL Draft.
He was a great prospect coming out of the Waterloo Blackhawks organization, but nobody expected the hype around him to match that of some other top defensemen in the organization by now. Rinzel could step into the Blackhawks' lineup the game after Minnesota is done, whenever that may be.
The young blue-liner defends well and he can make plays in the offensive zone. He had 10 goals and 21 assists for 31 points in 39 games played so far this year. If Rinzel continues to play like this in the tournament, the Golden Gophers have a chance.
The Blackhawks certainly have some outstanding prospects in the organization. The NCAA is about to showcase seven great ones.
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Donato Has Yet To Accept Blackhawks Offer On the Table
The Chicago Blackhawks didn't trade Ryan Donato in the midst of a career year for a couple of reasons. The offers were too low and the team believes he can be re-signed.
A three year, $12 million ($4 million AAV) offer has been on the table for Donato since ahead of the trade deadline and the 28-year-old has yet to accept. According to Scott Powers of The Athletic, there has been no discussion since that previous offer was made, but the sides are expected to try to work things out before free agency.
The Blackhawks will have more time to do so as they have already been eliminated from playoff contention and will have 2.5 months to see where talks go. With all of the money Chicago has and the season Donato has put together, I can see why he is waiting to accept. I think he can get more money and he deserves it with 25 goals and 55 points in 70 games on a $2 million AAV contract.
Donato is first on the team in goals by five, third on the team in assists, and one point back of the team lead in points. With players like Teuvo Teravainen and Tyler Bertuzzi making $5.4 million AAV or more, it is an easy comparison for Donato looking to finally cash in and stay in one place for more than a couple of years.
I think the Blackhawks will go up in money and potentially term as the team needs players like Donato if they are to take steps forward and climb out of a rebuild.
Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game day coverage, player features, and more.
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Chicago Blackhawks Roundtable Community
Update top heading of this page/update top heading graphics
I've got nothing against Seth Jones. He did fine during his tenure with the Hawks, but perhaps the authors of this page can take him off the top banner or heading of this page. Considering he's a Panther now!
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Victor Soderstrom Might Return To NHL After Rights Traded To Chicago: ‘We’ve Been Trying To Arrange It All Season’
thehockeynews.comVictor Soderstrom Might Return To NHL After Rights Traded To Chicago: ‘We’ve Been Trying To Arrange It All Season’Victor
Söderström
didn’t
want to give up on the NHL so early, but it seems that he didn’t
see a path to that dream running through Salt Lake City. Playing this
season for Brynäs
IF in the SHL, he learned on Friday – the
NHL trade deadline – that his NHL rights had been traded from Utah
HC to the Chicago Blackhawks along
with the rights to Shea Weber – who hasn’t
played since 2021 and is
essentially retired – in exchange for a fifth-round draft pick.
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Forever Blackhawk
Hope we are able to make playoffs in 2 years. God bless you 💖 all
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“I heard it’s coming”: NHL Insider Believes Frank Nazar’s Season Debut Is Imminent
thehockeynews.com“I heard it’s coming”: NHL Insider Believes Frank Nazar’s Season Debut Is ImminentElliotte Friedman believes Frank Nazar will be up with the Chicago Blackhawks soon.
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About Chicago Blackhawks RoundtableChicago Blackhawks news, video, analysis and community on The Hockey News
Follow all Blackhawks news at https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/chicago-blackhawksGraemeMay 12, 2024
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