How Blackhawks' prospect Sam Rinzel's in-game transition explains his bright future

CORNWALL, Ontario – Sam Rinzel was hard to miss at the World Junior A Challenge.

Not just because of his size, he towered over others a 6-foot-4, but because of how the Chicago Blackhawks prospect managed to generate excitement each shift. 

Shutting down Rinzel requires a lot of coordination on the part of a defence - the kind that freshly assembled players usually can’t manage. The result was open ice in the middle and a lot of Rinzel rushes through it. 

The Americans built their offense around the defenceman. Forwards would skate up, push back the opposition’s formation, and clear a runway of space for the Rinzel, who would then take the puck from the defensive zone all the way to the opposing end with a few of his long, perfectly-weighted strides, his hands quickly evading sticks as he dan