When Schinkel signed a contract with the AHL's Springfield Indians, who had no connection to an NHL team, he became the property of the team until he turned 27. The 1958-59 season saw him lead the AHL in goals with 43 and he totaled 85 points in 70 games. With several NHL teams interested in him, Sprinfield worked out a deal with the New York Rangers and Schinkel was finally in the big time.

Because of his veteran sensibility, the Rangers used Schinkel as a defensive forward, mostly on checking lines and killing penalties. After spending four seasons in New York, he was sent back down to the AHL's Baltimore Clippers where he rediscovered his scoring touch. He was brought back up to the Rangers once more during the 1966-67 season before the NHL expanded and the Pittsburgh Penguins claimed him in the Expansion Draft of 1967.

It was in Pittsburgh where Schinkel became a scorer once again. He was selected to play in the NHL All-Star Game in both 1968 and 1969 and enjoyed his best point production in the 1968-69 season with 52 points.

At the age of 40, and after six seasons with the Penguins, Schinkel hung up his skates and took over behind the bench as Pittsburgh's head coach. He was the Pens' bench boss for four seasons, but retired because he found the job too stressful. Schinkel went on to become assistant manager for the team and later a member of the scouting staff.