CHICAGO — The Chicago Blackhawks have signed two highly-rated young players, forward Oliver Moore and defenseman Sam Rinzel, to their first professional contracts.
Both Moore and Rinzel recently played for the University of Minnesota, whose season ended with an overtime loss to Massachusetts in the NCAA Tournament.
The contracts for Moore and Rinzel are for three years, lasting until the end of the 2026-27 season. Each contract has a salary cap hit of $950,000. They are expected to make their NHL debut on Sunday against Utah.
Moore expressed mixed emotions about leaving his college team and friends but stated that both he and Rinzel were ready to take the next step in their careers and have no regrets about turning pro.
Moore and Rinzel are key pieces in Chicago`s plan to rebuild and become competitive again. The Blackhawks, currently at the bottom of the league standings, may also sign another prospect, forward Ryan Greene, after his college season with Boston University concludes.
Moore, 20 years old, was drafted by Chicago as the 19th overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft. Rinzel, also 20, was a first-round pick in 2022.
Known for his speed, Moore scored 12 goals and added 21 assists in 38 games in his second season at Minnesota. He totaled 21 goals and 45 assists in 76 games throughout his college career.
Moore has also achieved international success, helping the U.S. to win gold medals at the World Junior Championship twice. Rinzel was part of the U.S. team that won the same tournament in 2024.
Rinzel, also from Minnesota, recorded 10 goals and 21 assists in 39 games for the Gophers this season and was recognized as the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.
Rinzel explained that he felt it was the right time to pursue his dream of playing in the NHL. He is excited to test himself at the professional level and seize this opportunity.
