Ranking the Chicago Blackhawks' Top 25 Prospects: No's 1-5

As the NHL offseason continues on and the Blackhawks' rookie camp just over a month away, it is as good of time as any to complete our top-25 prospect rankings.

In the last part, we began the top-10 by showcasing some enticing young goaltenders and a few strong forwards with impressive skill. The current management group in Chicago has put a lot of focus on stocking their system full of versatile forwards with speed and tenacity, and those traits have been talked about at length throughout these rankings.

Now, we get into the top-5.

No. 5: Sam Rinzel (2022 Draft: Round 1 #25 overall)

At the 2022 NHL Draft, the Blackhawks made a trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs which saw the 38th pick sent to Toronto in exchange for the 25th pick and Petr Mrazek's contract. With that 25th selection, the Blackhawks drafted defenseman Sam Rinzel.

When he was drafted, it was known that Rinzel would be a project. His height and effortless skating ability showed promise to NHL teams, but he was still very raw in his development and was yet to play against true top-level competition.

He spent the 2022-23 season in the USHL for the Waterloo Black Hawks where he posted 36 points in 58 games, showing that he was ready to play at the next level. This led to Rinzel playing his freshman season at University of Minnesota (NCAA) in 2023-24, rooming with fellow Blackhawks' prospect Oliver Moore.

Rinzel's development has shown great progress since entering the NCAA. He tallied 28 points in 39 games while getting consistent reps against top competition. His play led Rinzel to being selected to Team USA for the 2024 World Juniors, where he showcased strong play in a bottom-pair role.

Now weighing in at 6-foot-4 inches and 190 pounds, Rinzel has put on that much needed muscle and has a frame that is more pro-ready. He has developed into a strong defender in transition who has good offensive instincts and high-level skating ability. He will play another season in the NCAA and will be a player who could sign with the Blackhawks after his college season is done.