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Moore, 20, played on a line with captain Nick
Foligno and center Joe Veleno. Rinzel, 20, was paired with Wyatt
Kaiser, a third-round pick in the 2020 draft, on the blue line.
“I felt good. I think that Fliggy and Veleno did a really good
of helping me, just talking to me,” Moore said. “It's a
different game than college, for sure. It's a lot bigger. I mean
I felt pretty good, but know I can be better for sure.”
Moore and Rinzel each decided to leave the University of
Minnesota and turn pro as Chicago continues to look to the
future at the end of another disappointing season. The
last-place Blackhawks (21-44-9) have dropped three in a row and
10 of 11 overall.
The Original Six team is counting on its rich development system
to help get the organization back on track. The arrival of Moore
and Rinzel puts two more first-round picks on a roster that also
has Connor Bedard, Frank Nazar, Artyom Levshunov and Kevin
Korchinski.
“It was so fun,” Rinzel said of his debut. “Guys were great.
Like Ollie said, as a hockey player, you want to win. So that
stings. But overall, it was an unbelievable first game.”
Interim coach Anders Sorensen said he liked the performance by
each player in their debut.
“(Rinzel) did a lot of good things. Oliver, too,” he said.
“Under pressure made a lot of plays. Yeah, they were good.”
Moore and Rinzel played in their final game with Minnesota when
the Gophers lost to Massachusetts in overtime in the NCAA
Tournament on Thursday night. They agreed to entry-level
contracts with the Blackhawks on Saturday.
Moore was selected by Chicago with the No. 19 pick in the 2023
draft. Rinzel was taken by the Blackhawks with the No. 25 pick
in 2022.
The speedy Moore had 12 goals and 21 assists in 38 games during
his sophomore season with Minnesota.
Rinzel, another Minnesota native, had 10 goals and 21 assists in
39 games for the Gophers this season. He was named the Big Ten
Defensive Player of the Year.
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