The Chicago Blackhawks are entering the final stretch of their long-term rebuild, evaluating which young players fit into their vision for future success — and one 23-year-old forward has become the center of attention.
In recent weeks, Lukas Reichel has surfaced in numerous trade rumors connecting him to several teams, most notably the Detroit Red Wings. According to David Pagnotta in his latest report, the Vancouver Canucks, Edmonton Oilers, and San Jose Sharks have also expressed interest in acquiring the former 17th overall pick.
Per Pagnotta, via Jeff Marek’s “The Sheet”, Reichel could potentially land with one of those four teams. The forward, who will count $1.2 million against the cap this season, is a pending restricted free agent.
Reichel, selected in the first round of the 2020 NHL Draft, appeared in 70 games last season for Chicago, tallying eight goals and 14 assists for 22 points. He averaged 11:54 of ice time per game and saw limited usage on the Blackhawks’ power play as a depth option.
Reichel has struggled to find his footing with the Chicago Blackhawks
Both Lukas Reichel and the Chicago Blackhawks are hopeful that a change of scenery could help reignite the potential that made him the 17th overall pick.
Despite being given multiple chances to skate alongside Connor Bedard and other top-line talents, Reichel has yet to make a lasting impression or display consistent progress.
During last season, the 23-year-old forward even found himself as a healthy scratch for several games after reportedly oversleeping and missing a team meeting, a setback that further clouded his standing within the organization.
