Inside Wheeler’s Shocking Summer 2025 NHL Prospect Rankings: Who’s the True Future Star?

For a long time, Rinzel’s appeal was all about the potential, and it always felt like he was just scratching the surface. He has realized that potential over the last 18 months, though, and it no longer feels raw and “what if.” He found another level after returning from the World Juniors two years ago and hasn’t looked back, climbing a steep incline in his progression to become one of the top defensemen in college hockey as a sophomore last season and then immediately impressing at the NHL and bypassing Kevin Korchinski on the depth chart. He’s a long, right-shot defender who thrives in transition, continues to fill out his frame, has already quickly played catch-up with his peers and has time (thanks to a late June birthday) to continue to do even more of that. He’s a fluid skater with an active stick and an eager approach to playing offense and defense that keeps him involved in all three zones (which comes with some good and bad but more good than bad). His game used to be a little haywire, his play selection needed some buttoning up, and he’d occasionally get burned, but all of those things have started to fall into place nicely for him as he has gotten more reps and his skill and talent have taken over from there. You can see the tools, and he has really figured out how to deploy and utilize them in a more cohesive way. You can see his confidence building in real time as he starts to look like more than just his length and skating, too. He can really impact play when he’s reading the game well.

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