March 29, 2025, 01:34 PM ET
CHICAGO — The Blackhawks added two top prospects on Saturday, agreeing to an entry-level deal with forward Oliver Moore and defensive man Sam Linzel.
Moore and Lindsel played at the University of Minnesota this season. The Gophers lost to UMass in overtime in the NCAA tournament on Thursday night.
The Moore and Linzel contract will hit a $950,000 salary cap for each transaction throughout the 2026-27 season. They were able to play their first NHL game right away on Sunday at home with Utah.
Moore and Lindsel are part of Chicago’s rich development system and hope to help guide their teams out of the painful rebuilding process. The Blackhawks in the final spot could also add their second pick of 2022, Ryan Greene, to their second player, when the Boston College season is over.
Moore, 20, was selected by Chicago for the 19th pick in the 2023 NHL Draft. Linzel, 20, was his first round pick in 2022.
Speedy Moore scored 12 goals and 21 assists in 38 games during his sophomore season with Minnesota. Native Moundview, Minnesota, finished with 21 goals and 45 assists in 76 games at school.
Moore also helped the United States win back-to-back gold medals at the World Junior Championships.
Another Minnesota native, Lindsel has scored 10 goals and 21 assists in 39 games for the Gophers this season. He was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. Lindsel played for the 2024 US team, which won the junior tournament.
