Vinnie Hinostroza Bio
Vincent Enrique Hinostroza, commonly known as Vinnie Hinostroza, is an American professional ice hockey forward who currently plays for the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League (NHL). Selected by the Chicago Blackhawks in the sixth round, 169th overall, of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, Hinostroza has built a journeyman career across the league. Standing 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing around 183 pounds, he has suited up for the Blackhawks, Arizona Coyotes, Florida Panthers, Buffalo Sabres, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Nashville Predators over the course of his professional career.
Born in the Chicago suburb of Melrose Park, Illinois, Hinostroza developed through American amateur hockey before reaching the NHL. A speedy and creative forward, he is recognized for his playmaking ability and his knack for producing offense in transition. He is the son of Rick and Laura Hinostroza and grew up in Illinois with his older sister, Carli. His paternal grandparents emigrated from Ecuador, giving the forward a Latin American family heritage that he has spoken about with pride.
Early Life and Background
Vincent Enrique Hinostroza was born on April 3, 1994, in Melrose Park, Illinois, a working-class suburb on the western edge of the Chicago metropolitan area. He is the son of Rick and Laura Hinostroza, and his older sister, Carli, also grew up in the same Illinois community. Hinostroza’s paternal grandparents were from Ecuador, reflecting the family’s Latin American roots and giving the young athlete a multicultural upbringing in the Midwest.
As a youth, Hinostroza attended Bartlett High School in Illinois, where he was a multi-sport athlete and also played lacrosse. His passion for hockey, however, eventually took precedence. He played his youth hockey for the Chicago Mission AAA Youth Hockey Club, a program that also produced future NHL players Ryan Hartman and Nick Schmaltz, two players he would later share NHL rosters with. While competing with the Mission’s U16 midget team, Hinostroza appeared in 34 games, registering 13 goals and 21 assists along with 38 penalty minutes. His performances there earned him an invitation to USA Hockey’s Central District U16 camp.
While playing junior hockey for the Waterloo Black Hawks of the United States Hockey League, Hinostroza completed his high school education at Waterloo West High School in Waterloo, Iowa, where he graduated in 2012. In the 2010 USHL Futures Draft, the Waterloo Black Hawks selected him in the first round, fourth overall, signaling his status as one of the top young American prospects of his age group.
Path to Professional Hockey
Hinostroza’s path to the professional ranks ran through the United States Hockey League and the NCAA. After committing to play college hockey at the University of Notre Dame, he developed into one of the most skilled forwards in the program. In his freshman year, he was named to the 2013–14 Hockey East All-Rookie Team, an early indication of his scoring touch and hockey sense. The following season, his sophomore year, he earned a spot on the 2014–15 Hockey East First All-Star Team, cementing his reputation as an offensive catalyst.
On March 21, 2015, after his junior season at Notre Dame, Hinostroza chose to forgo his remaining college eligibility by signing a three-year entry-level contract with the Chicago Blackhawks, the organization that had originally drafted him. That decision set the stage for a professional career that has since stretched across multiple NHL franchises and a number of American Hockey League affiliates.
Vinnie Hinostroza Career
Early Career with the Chicago Blackhawks (2015–2018)
Hinostroza began his professional career in the 2015–16 season with the Rockford IceHogs, the Blackhawks’ American Hockey League affiliate. He did not have to wait long for his first NHL opportunity, as Chicago recalled him on October 16, 2015. The following night, on October 17, 2015, he made his NHL debut against the Columbus Blue Jackets, recording two penalty minutes and two shots on goal in a 4–1 Blackhawks victory.
His first career NHL goal came on November 19, 2016, when he beat Vancouver Canucks goaltender Jacob Markström. In the same game, Hinostroza added two assists as the Blackhawks erased a 3–0 deficit and won in overtime, a performance that hinted at his offensive potential. On June 15, 2018, he agreed to a two-year contract extension with Chicago, even though he was eligible to become a free agent on July 1.
Arizona Coyotes and Florida Panthers (2018–2021)
On July 12, 2018, Hinostroza was traded to the Arizona Coyotes as part of a multi-player deal that also involved Marián Hossa, Jordan Oesterle, and a 2019 third-round pick heading to Arizona, while the Blackhawks received Andrew Campbell, MacKenzie Entwistle, Marcus Krüger, Jordan Maletta, and a 2019 fifth-round pick. The transaction cleared roughly $8.5 million in salary cap space for Chicago. With the Coyotes, Hinostroza settled into a regular NHL role and produced offense at a steady pace over two seasons.
As an impending restricted free agent in 2020, Hinostroza was not tendered a qualifying offer by Arizona, which released him into free agency on October 8, 2020. The very next day, he signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Florida Panthers. However, his time in Florida proved brief. On April 2, 2021, the Panthers traded him back to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for Brad Morrison. With Florida, Hinostroza went pointless in nine games, but he responded by tallying four goals and eight assists in 14 games after returning to Chicago, showing that his offense was not far from the surface.
Buffalo Sabres, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Nashville Predators (2021–2025)
On July 28, 2021, Hinostroza signed a one-year, $1.05 million contract with the Buffalo Sabres. During the 2021–22 season, he appeared in 62 games for Buffalo, recording 13 goals and 12 assists for 25 points. The following campaign, 2022–23, was split between the Sabres and their AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans.
On July 7, 2023, he inked a one-year, $775,000 deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Hinostroza spent most of the 2023–24 season with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the AHL, though he was recalled several times and produced one goal and three points in 14 NHL appearances with Pittsburgh. Leaving the Penguins at the end of his contract, he signed a two-year, two-way contract with the Nashville Predators on July 1, 2024.
Minnesota Wild Era (2025–Present)
Assigned to the Milwaukee Admirals of the AHL to open the 2024–25 season, Hinostroza quickly emerged as one of the league’s top scorers, leading the AHL in points with 11 goals and 33 points before earning a recall to the Predators. He made his Nashville debut on December 30, 2024, against the Winnipeg Jets and went on to record two assists in 13 games. On February 5, 2025, the Predators placed him on waivers, where he was claimed by the Minnesota Wild, bringing him full circle back to the Western Conference and to a team chasing a playoff spot.
Driving Style and Strengths
Hinostroza is best described as a quick, undersized, and creative forward who relies on speed, edge work, and vision rather than power. He excels in transition, generating chances off the rush, and he is comfortable as both a playmaker and a finisher. His experience bouncing between the NHL and the AHL has also made him a reliable depth scorer and penalty killer for whatever club he joins.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the highlights of Hinostroza’s career are his NHL debut against the Columbus Blue Jackets on October 17, 2015, his first NHL goal and two-assist performance against Vancouver on November 19, 2016, and his AHL scoring title with the Milwaukee Admirals during the 2024–25 season. The trade to the Arizona Coyotes in July 2018 and his subsequent claim by the Minnesota Wild in February 2025 stand out as defining moments in a career that has spanned most of the league.
Vinnie Hinostroza Career Wins
Vinnie Hinostroza’s professional résumé is built on consistent offensive contributions in both the NHL and the AHL, with several impactful stretches in which he served as a top-six or top-nine forward. While he has not captured a Stanley Cup championship, his production in transition and his ability to lead an AHL affiliate in scoring underline his value as a depth playmaker.
NHL Highlights
Across his NHL stops with the Blackhawks, Coyotes, Panthers, Sabres, Penguins, Predators, and Wild, Hinostroza has provided secondary scoring and penalty killing. His 25-point season with the Buffalo Sabres in 2021–22, including 13 goals, remains among his strongest individual NHL campaigns. More recently, his return to the NHL with the Minnesota Wild in February 2025 provided a fresh opportunity to contribute on a contender’s third line.
AHL and Junior Highlights
In the AHL, Hinostroza opened his career with the Rockford IceHogs and has since produced stints with the Rochester Americans, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, and Milwaukee Admirals. His best stretch came in the early part of the 2024–25 season, when he paced the entire AHL in scoring with 11 goals and 33 points for the Milwaukee Admirals. In the USHL, he was a first-round Futures Draft pick by the Waterloo Black Hawks in 2010.
Vinnie Hinostroza Family
Family Background and Heritage
Hinostroza is the son of Rick and Laura Hinostroza, who raised him in Illinois alongside his older sister, Carli. His paternal grandparents were born in Ecuador, and that Latin American heritage has remained an important part of his family identity. The Hinostroza family supported Vincent’s hockey journey from youth leagues through college and into the NHL.
Personal Life
Hinostroza grew up in the Chicago area and has continued to base his professional life in cities with established hockey cultures across the United States. He completed his high school education at Waterloo West High School in Iowa in 2012 before moving on to the University of Notre Dame. Public details about his current personal relationships are limited.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 calendar year has already been one of the most eventful of Hinostroza’s professional career. He opened the 2024–25 season with the Milwaukee Admirals, where he quickly established himself as the top scorer in the American Hockey League, recording 11 goals and 33 points before earning a recall to the Nashville Predators. His December 30, 2024 debut with the Predators against the Winnipeg Jets marked a return to the NHL after a year spent mostly in the AHL.
After registering two assists in 13 appearances with Nashville, Hinostroza was placed on waivers and claimed by the Minnesota Wild on February 5, 2025. The move gave him a chance to slot into a depth role on a competitive Wild roster, while his existing contract, signed in 2024, runs through the 2025–26 season at a salary of $775,000.
Looking ahead to the remainder of 2025, Hinostroza’s primary objective will be to cement a regular spot in Minnesota’s lineup and contribute to a potential playoff push. His blend of speed, vision, and AHL-tested scoring touch should make him a useful complementary piece for the Wild’s bottom six. If he can translate his Milwaukee form into NHL production, the claim from waivers may emerge as one of the most consequential moves of his career.