The influx of Chicago Blackhawks prospects continued Saturday with the team reaching three-year, entry-level deals with forward Oliver Moore and defenseman Sam Rinzel.
Each contract carries a $950,000 salary-cap hit through 2026-27.
The moves come on the heels of the Hawks calling up Kevin Korchinski on Thursday from Rockford. Korchinski, 20, played in Friday’s 5-3 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights at the United Center.
With nine games remaining, it’s time for the rebuilding Hawks — who at 21-43-9 have the second-fewest points in the NHL — to take a closer look at the future, and that includes Moore and Rinzel.
The Hawks selected Moore 18 slots behind No. 1 pick Connor Bedard in 2023, and it was thought then that Moore potentially could be Bedard’s wing man of the future.
This season, Moore, 20, recorded 12 goals and 21 assists in 38 games as a sophomore at the University of Minnesota. The 6-foot, 185-pound Moore was named to the 2024 Big Ten All-Rookie Team as a freshman.
The 6-5, 190-pound Rinzel was generally considered a reach when the Hawks took him at No. 25 in the 2022 draft, but he completely turned around that narrative.
Moore’s Golden Gophers teammate posted two goals and 26 assists in 39 games as a freshman — and was named to the conference all-rookie team — and followed it this season with 10 goals and 22 assists in 40 games.
Moore and Rinzel share some experience on the international stage. Moore won gold with the U.S. team at the 2018 U18 World Juniors. Then at the U20s the next season, Moore and Rinzel won gold with a Hawks-laden U.S. team that also included Frank Nazar and Gavin Hayes.
Moore made it back-to-back golds this season.
