Blackhawks to Add Oliver Moore and Sam Rinzel, Both First-Round Draft Picks

The Chicago Blackhawks inked deals with their first-round selections, Oliver Moore and Sam Rinzel, for three-year, entry-level contracts that will run through the 2026-27 campaign. Both players are anticipated to make their NHL debuts before the season's end.

The contracts come with a $950,000 salary cap hit.

Hailing from Minnesota, the 20-year-old players join the Blackhawks after wrapping up their season with the University of Minnesota, who fell to Massachusetts in a 5-4 overtime defeat on Thursday.

Moore, a forward, was chosen by the Blackhawks as the No. 19 pick in the 2023 NHL Draft. In his time with the Golden Gophers, he recorded 66 points (21 goals, 45 assists) in 76 games. He was named to the Big Ten All-Rookie Team in 2024 and secured back-to-back gold medals for the United States at the IIHF World Junior Championships in 2024 and '25.

Rinzel, a defenseman, was recognized as the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and earned first-team All-Big Ten honors for the 2024-25 season. He ranked sixth among defensemen in the NCAA with 31 points (10 goals, 21 assists) this season.

Throughout his college career, he accumulated 60 points (12 goals, 48 assists) in 79 games and also represented the United States at the 2024 IIHF World Juniors. The Blackhawks selected him as the No. 25 overall pick in the 2022 draft.

With a record of 21-43-9 and 51 points, the Blackhawks currently hold the second-worst record in the league. Since their Stanley Cup win in 2015, they have only made the playoffs three times, losing in the first round each year. This will be their fifth consecutive season finishing below .500.

According to The Athletic, both players are expected to make their debuts this season, with 10 games remaining. Moore is projected to play on Sunday against the Utah Hockey Club.