Big things could be in store for Lukas Reichel this upcoming season.
There are high stakes for Reichel through this training camp because if he plays well, he’ll be rewarded with a larger role.
“My expectation is that he competes hard for a top-six spot,” Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson said via Charlie Roumeliotis. “We’ve got bodies, so he’s going to have to earn that. He’s going to have to come in and take that role. It’s on him, in a way. We don’t want him playing on the fourth line or anything like that, but he’s been around enough to know what the expectation is and what the NHL requires from a consistency standpoint. He’s still young so he has to figure that out and find his way.”
#Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson on Lukas Reichel this season: “My expectation is that he competes hard for a top-six spot. We’ve got bodies, so he’s going to have to earn that. He’s going to have to come in and take that role. It’s on him, in a way. We don’t want him playing on the…
— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) September 20, 2024
The Blackhawks selected Reichel with the 17th overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft.
After spending the majority of his time in the AHL over the past couple of years, Reichel is coming off of his first full season in the NHL.
In 65 games, the 22-year-old recorded five goals, 11 assists and 16 points while averaging 14:07 minutes.
The Blackhawks are waiting for Reichel to truly emerge and are hoping that he can earn himself a top-six role.
This is the perfect time for Reichel to take advantage of his opportunity with the team still in the midst of a rebuild.
It’s time for him to prove he is not only worthy of staying on the roster, but prove he can be a substantial piece for Chicago long into the future.
