NEWSLETTER
Leading up to the 2023 NHL Draft, many Blackhawks fans, writers and analysts were trying to figure out how general manager Kyle Davidson was going to move up from the 19th overall pick to get forward Oliver Moore. Moore was considered the best skater in the draft class, an especially impressive distinction given the hype around one of the better, deeper draft classes in recent history.
The Blackhawks apparently also had Moore’s name circled. And with each name that was called, the Blackhawks seemingly stuck with the 19th pick felt like landing Moore was becoming even less likely.
But one name after another was called, and eventually 18 players other than Moore were drafted before the Blackhawks were on the clock. By some miraculous turn of events, the Blackhawks got their other guy in the first round and didn’t have to make a trade to move up and get him.
Moore headed to the University of Minnesota for his freshman season this year, where he’s spending more time with defenseman Sam Rinzel. Rinzel, the Blackhawks’ third selection in the first round of the 2022 NHL Draft, is also a freshman after spending an additional season in the USHL after being drafted.
The season started pretty well for Moore. He had three assists in his first NCAA game, a fourth assist the next night and scored his first career collegiate goal at North Dakota — whose barn he said is the hardest to play in that he’s experienced thus far — in just his third game.
Easy, right?
Over his next 16 games before leaving to for the World Junior Championship, Moore had only one goal and four assists. Minnesota only won seven of those 16 games, and the team appeared to desperately need the holiday break.
Well, except for Moore and Rinzel. They traveled to Sweden with fellow Blackhawks prospects Frank Nazar and Gavin Hayes to represent the United States. The USA went on to win gold, with Moore playing anywhere from the 13th forward spot to a top-line wing.
“[Winning gold] was super special,” Moore said. “Just that whole entire group was really special. The way that team came together and played that well and represented our country in that way in that short period of time was unbelievable. And having Rin up there, Frankie and Hazy, it was a lot of fun too. We definitely bonded up there and it was a good time.”
Since they got home from winning gold, all four of the Blackhawks’ prospects who played in the tournament have been on fire. In eight games since coming back to Minnesota, Moore has four goals and nine assists.
Coming home confident is great, and his production has helped Minnesota turn their season around. It’s no coincidence that Moore and Rinzel came home on fire and the Gophers have won six of their last seven.
That doesn’t mean his game is back on easy street, however. Throughout his freshman season, Moore said he’s been in regular contact with the Blackhawks’ player development group, both to discuss on-ice development but also the mental side of the game as well. They have been able to work with him on some of the finer details of his game, helping him improve overall with the Gophers.
“I got the chance to talk with one of the player development coaches there and we went over a bunch of my rushes and just seeing tendencies within it and watching guys in the league and tendencies that they have and trying to build off that,” he said. “Diversity off the rush was something that maybe I didn’t look into as much before the season started, but now that we’re getting going here, it’s something that I’m looking to improve.”
Moore also talked about learning a great deal from the upperclassmen on the Minnesota roster, noting they have a few fifth-year seniors on the team. On Thursday, Moore — and Rinzel — were among the freshmen named to the Hockey Commissioners Association’s Tim Taylor Rookie of the Year Award ‘Watch List.’
Minnesota is ranked ninth in the country and has a huge test this weekend against Wisconsin. Moore hopes he can help the Gophers make some noise down the stretch in the Big Ten and chase a national championship.
What’s the best part of playing for the Golden Gophers?
“I think it’s just playing in front of the fans and being at their rink every day,” Moore said. “You feel the buzz around the campus when things are going well. And obviously when we get it packed out in Mariucci, it’s a special feeling for sure. And putting on the jersey. And looking at the guys that came before me here, too. It’s a cool feeling for sure.”
