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Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Sam Rinzel responds to coaching staff after being healthy scratched Saturday
Photo credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images
The Chicago Blackhawks scratched defenseman Sam Rinzel on Saturday night, and he watched the game against the Toronto Maple Leafs from the press box.
While he was scratched, the Blackhawks don't want Rinzel to view this as a punishment, though.
They want Rinzel to view this as more of a reset to clear his mind after being slowly moved down the lineup from top pair to seventh defenseman to scratched.
This is what head coach Jeff Blashill had to say about the situation with Rinzel.
«Sometimes as a coach, you sit a guy to give him a chance to take a breath, regroup, and re-attack it. He has shown he's a great defenseman in this league We just need him to get back to that level.»
Luckily, Rinzel is taking it the way it was intended and said that there are a couple areas he needs to improve on.
Sam Rinzel accepts healthy scratching from the Blackhawks
"I've got to be better in a couple areas of the ice that I know I'm actually relatively good at. I've been in these little lulls before in my life. I know my game - when I'm playing well - is confident and I'm making plays.»
The 21-year-old has been up and down throughout the whole season so far. Rinzel only has three points in 17 games but is a +2. Stats aside, he had a rough start to the year, picked it up in the last eight or nine games, and then fell back to his bad habits from the beginning of the season.
Sadly for Rinzel, he's still looking on the outside of the lineup.
The good news is the Blackhawks already did this earlier this season with Artyom Levshunov. They sat Levshunov after a rough stretch for a mental reset and he's come back better than ever.
Hopefully, the same happens with Rinzel, and he comes back better.
Previously on Chicago Hockey Insider
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