The Chicago Blackhawks selected Anton Frondell with the third overall pick, and with the move, the Blackhawks' depth chart seems to have changed.
With the Blackhawks' selection of Frondell and his surprising comments that he plans to compete for a spot in 2025-26, Chicago now has to re-evaluate their roster for next season. Someone who has already been on the hot seat seems to be even more likely for a change of scenery.
Could Lukas Reichel be on the move after the Blackhawks addition of Anton Frondell?
There is no doubt that Lukas Reichel's 2024-25 NHL Season was underwhelming. Reichel played in 70 games last season, registering 8 goals and 22 points on the season. There were a number of times Reichel was sitting as a healthy scratch as head coach Luke Richardson and then interim head coach Anders Sorensen soured on Reichel's play.
Reichel, 23, was once a top draft pick by the Blackhawks. Chicago drafted the forwared 17th overall during the 2020 NHL Draft—the last draft by general manager Stan Bowman. Reichel, who was praised at the time of the draft for his play away from the puck through his forechecking and backchecking, has seemed to have lost his game over the past few seasons in Chicago.
The Blackhawks are in a tough position, as more and more prospects step into the lineup and compete for spots in the Windy City, Reichel becomes more and more unlikely to find a long-term home in Chicago.
Reichel is signed through the end of the 2025-26 NHL Season and has already been listed as a top trade target this offseason. Maybe we could see Kyle Davidson move on from one of the final prospects of the Stan Bowman era as soon as things kick back up Saturday for day two of the draft.
