It’s been a long and winding road for the Chicago Blackhawks in this 2024-25 season. Finishing 31st in the league and with a record of 25-46-11 was not the original game plan. But a lot of things backfired, and rebuilds take time. A losing campaign is a losing campaign, but there are always players that stand out from the crowd. We chose 3 Stars for every month of the season (with the exception of February), so we’d be remiss if we didn’t do so in April.
Overall, the team ended on a high note to finish out the season. Out of eight games played in April, the Blackhawks’ record was an admirable 4-2-2. It’s almost unfortunate the season had to end, because they were just getting on a roll. But this campaign is now officially over, so let’s highlight the 3 Stars for April. I’ve interspersed the other months throughout this article, for those of you that want to take a deep dive.
No. 3 Star: Sam Rinzel
There are some forwards that added more production this month (two of them I’ll get to below!), but I went with defenseman Rinzel as my No. 3 pick, and deservedly so.
Related – Chicago Blackhawks’ 3 Stars For October
This 20-year-old came straight to the Blackhawks from finishing his collegiate season with the University of Minnesota, after he and his Golden Gophers were defeated by the University of Massachusetts in this year’s NCAA Semifinals. Both Rinzel and teammate Oliver Moore signed entry-level contracts with the Blackhawks, and made their NHL debuts just two days later, against the Utah Hockey Club (Mar. 30).
The organization was high on their 2022 first round (25th overall) draft pick, but I’m not sure anyone expected Rinzel to have the impact he did so early on. He was promoted to the top defensive pairing alongside Alex Vlasic in his second game, and was quarterbacking the top power play unit by his fourth game.
The Minnesota native has shown he’s extremely responsible defensively, he distributes the puck well and is calm and poised under pressure. In just nine NHL games, he’s already contributed five assists, ending the season on a four-game point streak. Rinzel’s average ice time logged in at 23:22 minutes, just under the departed Seth Jones (24:30 minutes) and just ahead of Vlasic (23:16 minutes) for second place on the team. In short, he’s already being trusted by the coaching staff to play big minutes.
Related – Chicago Blackhawks’ 3 Stars For November
Granted it’s a small sample size, but Rinzel is also one of only two players who finished the season with a positive plus/minus rating; with a plus-1 (forward Ilya Mikheyev was the other with a plus-4). Rinzel’s early impact has been extremely positive. He’s essentially become the Blackhawks’ top defenseman overnight!
No. 2 Star: Connor Bedard
Considering he was the 2023 first overall draft pick, and with all the hype surrounding him since he’s joined the league, you might expect Bedard to have been the No. 1 Star every month this season. It turns out he did receive 1st Star honors in both December and January, but none before and none since.
Related – Chicago Blackhawks’ 3 Stars for December
Bedard had a tough stretch through February and March where his production was lacking. He seemed tentative and frustrated on the ice, many times electing to pass instead of shoot. Or, he would hold onto the puck too long and it would get stripped. He was having so much trouble that many pundits and fans alike were feeling that Bedard just didn’t have what it takes to make it at the NHL level.
But he worked through it to a certain extent, and the arrival of prospects closer to his age seemed to jump start the young star. In the eight games in April, Bedard posted three goals and six assists for nine points; with all three goals and four helpers coming in the last four games. As a matter of fact, the last contest on Apr. 15 was Bedard’s first multi-goal game of the season. Better late than never!
Bedard ended the 2024-25 campaign with 23 goals and 44 assists for 67 points, suiting up in all 82 games. His rookie stats were 22 goals, 39 assists and 61 points. But that was in 14 less games due to a broken jaw. So, in Bedard’s eyes, he technically under-achieved.
Related – Chicago Blackhawks’ 3 Stars for January
But the 19-year-old dealt with questionable coaching and a ludicrous rotation of linemates. Sure, the entire team dealt with that too, but Bedard is only 19! This campaign can be viewed as one where Bedard hopefully learned from adversity. He now has a better idea of what works and what doesn’t work in this league, and I’m sure he has a laundry list of things to work on in the offseason. This young man is just getting started!
No. 1 Star: Frank Nazar
If you’ve been paying attention to the games at the end of the Blackhawks’ season, I’m sure it comes as no surprise that Nazar earned the 1st Star for April. He certainly did make a statement this season! The 21-year-old was called up from the Rockford IceHogs in mid-December, and he never looked back. He did get off to a bit of a slow start, but he just kept learning and growing and building; and it paid off.
In eight games in April, Nazar boasted five goals and nine points, which included three big goals and five points in the last three games. He ended the season with an impressive 12 goals and 26 points in 53 games.
The Michigan native contributed not just on 5-on 5 but in all situations. And when I say ALL I’m not kidding! First off, Nazar sported a 44.6 faceoff percentage this season. Which is not too shabby, especially for a rookie. He also boasts a shorthanded goal, as well as scoring on the only penalty shot awarded to the team. Furthermore, he notched a power play goal, and the winning shootout goal against the Montreal Canadiens (Apr. 14); the one that notoriously got lost in the netting before it was finally called a goal. Oh, and then there’s the overtime goal; the last tally of the 2024-25 campaign.
Connor Bedard sets up Frank Nazar for the overtime winner, and that's how Chicago's season comes to an end. Perfect. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/mZnKvtU8Pe
— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) April 16, 2025
This is the perfect video, because it incorporates all three of our April Stars. First you have Rinzel in the defensive zone, expertly keeping the opponent to the outside, and then poke-checking the puck away. Then Bedard intercepts the puck and transitions into the offensive zone. The whole time he’s looking at Rinzel, who’s now skating to his left, to throw everyone off. But then he neatly slides the puck back to the trailing Nazar, who’s more than ready to fire it into the net.
Getting back to Nazar, his energy, quickness and great instincts stood out above the rest, especially at the tail end of the season. This kid is going to be really fun to watch moving forward!
Related – Chicago Blackhawks’ 3 Stars for March
Coincidentally, the above three Stars are 20, 19 and 21 years old, respectively. The youth movement has arrived! All three dynamic players will be back again next season, to hopefully pick up right where they left off. It’s an exciting time to be a Blackhawks fan.
Is it October yet?!
