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Chicago Blackhawks complete puzzling decision to healthy scratch top-pairing defenseman
Photo credit: Icon Sportswire
Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Sam Rinzel is a healthy scratch ahead of today's game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Rinzel has played 17 games for the Blackhawks this season and scored 3 points (1-2). He was a top-pairing defenseman until the recent decision of head coach Jeff Blashill to scratch him.
Rinzel's star has fallen fast, as he was a fixture on the 1st power-play unit (now held by Artyom Levshunov), and has fallen to the 7th defenseman position (an extra).
He'll miss a game after proving to be a liability for the team, skating only 11:29 minutes against the Devils in the 4-3 overtime loss.
The former 1st-round pick defenseman's scratch may seem a mystery for some, but for the Bleacher Report, they understood where some of his weaknesses lie.
The Chicago Blackhawks Scratch Defenseman Sam Rinzel
As a power-play quarterback, Rinzel looked out of place and wasn't running the unit, insofar as reacting.
There was a lot of scanning and reacting instead of skating and directing. And, when that happens, it's usually followed by turnovers.
While his underlying stats are what's sticking out to the Blackhawks front office, as we know, Kyle Davidson loves those.
Natural Stat Trick had Rinzel down for a 29.26 expected Goals For percentage at 5-on-5 last night - not a good number. In 10:16 on the ice at even strength, Rinzel had a 2-6 Shots For rate - also not great.
The Blackhawks need to get a better Sam Rinzel if they're to continue thriving during this rebuild.
Over the last ten games, Rinzel has been on the ice for 18 scoring chances against, while in contrast being on the ice for 6 chances for the team.
Not exactly an endearing situation for a prospect who should be growing in the face of adversity.
His 5v5 ice time has dwindled in the last three games from 14:12, 13:40, and 10:16, and he has only seen 15 minutes of 5v5 time against three teams: Ottawa, Edmonton, and Vancouver.
The Blackhawks will need Rinzel to reset and learn from his recent mistakes, as they push Louis Crevier up in the lineup to fill the void left by Rinzel's scratch.
This hasn't been a great year for Rinzel, who was injured after a blindside hit from the Lightning's Mitchell Chaffee.
Rinzel signed his entry-level contract last March with the Blackhawks, and the team held a promising outlook on their future with him in the lineup.
Is this another Kevin Korchinski situation?
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