The Chicago Blackhawks signed first-round draft picks Oliver Moore and Sam Rinzel to three-year, entry-level contracts via the 2026-27 season, with each anticipated to make their NHL debuts earlier than the tip of the season.
The contracts carry a $950,000 cap hit.
The gamers, each 20-year-old Minnesota natives, come to the Blackhawks from the College of Minnesota, which concluded its season Thursday with a 5-4 additional time loss to Massachusetts.
Moore, a ahead, was taken by the Blackhawks with the No. 19 total choose within the 2023 NHL Draft. In 76 profession video games with the Golden Gophers, Moore tallied 66 factors (21 targets, 45 assists). He was a Huge Ten All-Rookie Staff choice in 2024 after his freshman season, and he received back-to-back gold medals for america on the IIHF World Junior Championships in 2024 and ’25.
Rinzel, a defenseman, was named Huge Ten Defensive Participant of the 12 months and earned first-team All-Huge Ten honors for the 2024-25 season. His 31 factors (10 targets, 21 assists) this season put him sixth amongst blueliners within the NCAA.
In his school profession, he totaled 60 factors (12 targets, 48 assists) in 79 video games, and he additionally was a member of the 2024 IIHF World Juniors staff. The Blackhawks chosen him with the No. 25 total choose of the 2022 draft.
The Blackhawks (21-43-9, 51 factors) have the second-worst report within the league coming into play Saturday. Since successful the Stanley Cup in 2015, Chicago has made the playoffs simply 3 times, shedding within the first spherical each season. They’ll end under .500 for 5 consecutive seasons.
The Athletic reported that each gamers are anticipated to debut this season, which has 10 video games remaining. Per The Athletic, Moore is predicted to play Sunday in opposition to the Utah Hockey Membership.
–Discipline Degree Media