Blackhawks News
BLACKHAWKS TRADE: Lukas Reichel To Canucks
Lukas Reichel received only one shift during the third period in Thursday night’s 3-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. As it turns out, that was Reichel’s final shift as a member of the Chicago Blackhawks.
Reichel, the 17th overall pick by the Blackhawks in the 2020 NHL Draft, was traded to the Vancouver Canucks on Friday afternoon, with Chicago getting a 2027 fourth-round pick in return.
Reichel skated on the Blackhawks’ top forward line with Connor Bedard and Tyler Bertuzzi in what ended up being his last game with the club in Tampa Bay. The 23-year-old forward recorded the primary assist on Ryan Donato’s first of two tallies on the night, but he was also on the ice for both of the Lightning’s goals.
It’s a disappointing end to Reichel’s tenure in Chicago, as just a few years ago, he was looked at as the future of the franchise. He showed flashes and blips of promise at times, particularly during his third NHL stint late in the 2022-23 campaign. Reichel had seven goals and eight assists for 15 points in 23 games with the Blackhawks that season, but he’s struggled to piece it all together ever since.
In 70 NHL games last year, Reichel netted only 22 points (8G, 14A), while playing mostly in a bottom-six role. Since he wasn’t drafted by current GM Kyle Davidson, Reichel seemed to fall out of favor within the organization, as he remained down in the lineup (or healthy scratched) as other up-and-coming prospects were given greater opportunities.
Reichel has yet to figure out how to utilize his blistering speed effectively in a lesser role, which regularly left him as an outsider in the team’s forward group, despite being a former first-round selection. It became abundantly clear that Reichel didn’t have a place in the Blackhawks’ future plans, and Davidson ultimately elected to give him a fresh start with Vancouver.
While a fourth-round pick isn’t exactly an ideal return for Reichel, GMKD did the right thing by moving him and giving him a chance elsewhere. Considering that Reichel isn’t waiver-exempt any longer, the Blackhawks would have risked losing him for free if they assigned him to the Rockford IceHogs of the AHL. At least Davidson was able to get something in return, which, funny enough, was the pick he traded to Vancouver as part of the Ilya Mikheyev trade in June 2024.
Reichel also reportedly had asked the Blackhawks for a trade, and both parties worked together to grant that wish. Reichel’s agent, Allain Roy, credited Davidson for handling the situation properly and with class.
With Landon Slaggert’s return on Sunday against Anaheim, and Jason Dickinson and Andre Burakovsky likely to rejoin the lineup in the near future, Reichel was about to go back into limbo with Chicago. He wouldn’t have received consistent opportunities in the lineup, and it felt like the Blackhawks had one forward too many on their roster.
It’s tough to see Reichel go, but it was undoubtedly for the best. In five seasons with the Blackhawks, Reichel posted 58 points (22G, 36A) in 174 regular-season games. The Nurnberg, Germany native appeared in five games with Chicago this season, recording four points (2G, 2A).
Credit to Lukas for always keeping a smile on his face throughout all the ups and downs during his time with the franchise.
Here’s to wishing all the best for Reichel in his new home of Vancouver!
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