Free This Player: Vinnie Hinostroza deserves another NHL shot

(Note: Welcome to a new weekly column from SB Nation NHL called “Free This Player,” where each Tuesday we’ll dig into a relatively unheralded player from the NHL or AHL who deserves a better opportunity than the one he’s receiving. Or, in the words of the internet, “free him” to do his thing.)

Vinnie Hinostroza may not be the most noticeable player when he steps onto the ice at 5’9 and 175 pounds, but it was impossible not to focus on him in the Rockford IceHogs’ 4-3 shootout win over the Chicago Wolves on Sunday.

The Chicago Blackhawks prospect, who currently played for their AHL affiliate, went off with a pair of stunning plays that showed why so many Blackhawks fans are clamoring to see him back on the roster. He looks to be mastering the game at the lower level, and it begs the question of how long it’ll be until he’s given a bigger challenge.

First came this goal during regulation where Hinostroza skated the puck through the entire defense, standing up multiple defenders in a dizzying display of skill. Afterwards, he gave a bit of a Patrick Kane-inspired celebration, as if to nudge the Hawks higher ups to start having dreams where they cannot separate the two.

That goal would’ve been enough excitement for most players, but Hinostroza followed it up in the shootout with another dazzling effort to finish off the victory.

That does not look like a player who belongs in the AHL.

Hinostroza found himself as the odd man out of the Blackhawks’ roster to open the season, and he’s still working to earn another shot on a crowded roster now. But as we saw over the weekend, he’s a very talented player who could help an NHL team, even if it’s not a future superstar.

It’s been a long road for Hinostroza since he was drafted by the Blackhawks in the sixth round in 2012. The forward spent two years playing at Notre Dame, where he put up 76 points in 76 games, then played a full season in the AHL. He also put up good numbers in Rockford with 51 points in 66 games as a 21-year-old.

The Blackhawks gave him an extended opportunity last season, but he only showed flashes with 14 points in 49 games. By the spring, he was back in Rockford as Chicago made its postseason push.

Then in training camp this fall, Hinostroza was beaten out for NHL spots by rookies Alex DeBrincat and John Hayden. All three were waiver-exempt, but the Blackhawks went with the less experienced duo. And with every other forward on the roster requiring waivers for AHL assignment, Hinostroza’s ticket was booked.

Hinostroza’s performance on Sunday was a good example of why he needs another chance at the highest level. He’s too fast and too skilled for AHL defenses to consistently rein him in. Over 103 games at that level, he’s recorded 77 points.

There’s concern that he could be an undersized tweener who’s skilled enough to dominate lesser opponents but gets overwhelmed by superior competition, but we don’t have enough information to say that definitively yet. And while it feels like Hinostroza has been around for a while, he doesn’t turn 24 years old until April.

Speed is at a premium in the modern NHL, and it’s undeniable that Hinostroza has it. The rest of his game had been a work-in-progress, but it seems like he’s getting better at slowing things down a bit to utilize his skating ability in ways beyond going north-south like a runaway train.

The most difficult part for the Blackhawks would be making room. The team has a full 23-man roster, so it would need to clear space for Hinostroza. However, only five players on the roster are waiver-exempt (DeBrincat, Hayden, Nick Schmaltz, Gustav Forsling, Jan Rutta), and they’re all more or less locks for the NHL roster right now.

So the Blackhawks would need to make a trade, place an injured player on LTIR, or risk losing a player on waivers. The obvious candidates there are defenseman Jordan Oesterle and center Tanner Kero, who have made a combined three appearances in the lineup this month.

And that’s before even finding a spot for Hinostroza in a lineup that’s been shaken up constantly this season. The Blackhawks wouldn’t want him on the checking fourth line, so they likely would need to find a spot on the third line.

Those are challenges the team would need to overcome to make room for Hinostroza, but all indications are that it would be worthwhile. He’s their best player in the AHL, and could add an immediate dose of speed to a team that’s been a step behind all too often early this season.

Free Vinnie Hinostroza.