Sam Rinzel's puck handling issues need to be fixed as Hawks' defense continues early-season struggles

Through the first seven games of the season, it has been a tough start for Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Sam Rinzel. 

The 22-year-old was expected to play top-pairing minutes and break out in a major way this season, as he enters a contract year before becoming a restricted free agent.

Instead, the former 25th overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft has struggled early. He has held onto his second power-play role, but he has been bumped down to the third pairing, and for good reason.

The biggest issue is puck management. Against the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday (Oct. 15), Rinzel showed his handling needs work, finishing the night with seven giveaways. That total led the game and was the highest in the entire league among the 11 games played that night. Head coach Jeff Blashill likely took notice, and the Blackhawks will hope to avoid a repeat.

It was not an isolated bad night, either as Rinzel is tied for the third-most giveaways in the league this season with 16, and 10 of them have come in the defensive zone. That is the second-worst mark on the team, behind only Artyom Levshunov, who has four fewer giveaways overall, with 12 on the season, but 11 of his have come in Chicago's end. 

Both young defensemen are being asked to carry significant responsibility, and both have paid for mistakes with the puck in the most dangerous area of the ice.

The trend is a stark departure from a year ago. In 54 games, Rinzel finished with 67 giveaways, an average of 4.07 per 60 minutes. This season, that rate has jumped to 7.68 per 60 minutes, nearly double his previous pace, and is a concerning sign. Though the sample size is small, and one night can skew the numbers.

There are positives to point to with Rinzel's even-strength goal differential of just minus-two, one of the better marks on the team and suggests he may be making up for his mistakes by doing his best to make sure they don't convert into goals for the opposition.

Rinzel’s contract situation adds another layer as he plays for his next deal. A strong season can boost his negotiating position, but a slow start could hurt his stock.

Team defense struggling early this season

The problem extends beyond one player as the Blackhawks have allowed 32 goals through its first eight games, an average of four per game, and the issue will need to be addressed after the back end was not nearly as costly a year ago. 

Chicago was supposed to be better defensively with the addition of Bowen Byram, who they acquired from the Buffalo Sabres for the fourth overall pick in this past draft, but the results have not improved much.

That raises the question of whether Chicago should consider a change on the coaching staff, at least on the defensive side, to stop the bleeding. Defense appears to be the team’s biggest area of need this season.

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