Reichel has arrived at the IIHF World Championship and joined Team Germany. Now the forward, who turns 22 on May 17, has a summer of work ahead of him after a disappointing 2023-24 season. Story includes video.
Lukas Reichel didn't just have a disappointing 2023-24 season, he had a terrible one.
Lukas Reichel celebrates playoff goal at AHL Rockford.
Rockford IceHogs
Still the Chicago Blackhawks and general manager Kyle Davidson had enough faith in the talent and potential of Reichel, their 2020 first-round draft pick, to sign him to a new two-year contract on May 7 just before the draft lottery. The deal pays and has a salary cap hit of $1.2 million annually (AAV).
Reichel's previous three-year contract had an AAV of $1.34 million, including bonuses. The new pact gives the wiry German forward, who turns 22 on May 17, a chance to get his game, focus and career trajectory together. See Davidson in the following video.
Former Top Prospect Faltered: Gets New Chance
Reichel was considered the Blackhawks' top prospect before the team drafted Connor Bedard with the No. 1 overall pick in 2023.
After Bedard joined the Chicago last fall, the reserved, almost shy Reichel was slotted as the team's second center. The idea: Let Reichel quietly improve his game in the NHL in the shadow of Bedard, the game's highly touted "next generational talent" who would steal the limelight. He had shown signs of being ready for steady NHL work with seven goals and 15 points in 23 games with Chicago in 2022-23.
Lukas Reichel looks on as Connor Bedard gets a "medal" from teammates after four-point night against Lightning in Tampa in November
Chicago Blackhawks X/Twitter Video
Coach Luke Richardson gave Reichel ample ice time and opportunity last season. The forward didn't do much with it.
Despite his speed and skill, Reichel didn't play with consistent focus. He'd be visible for a shift or two, then disappear. He'd drive to the net on one play, not score, then drift off the the periphery. Sometimes he'd just not bear down and make a costly mistake.
Reichel finished with just five goals and 11 assists in 65 games in 2023-24. He was sent down to Rockford of the AHL for a month, from mid-February through mid-March.
Reichel returned to Chicago on March 17. He was a bit better, scoring two goals and four assists in 15 games.
After the 31st place Blackhawks' season ended, Reichel went on to skate the AHL playoffs with Rockford, who were eliminated in four games. He then joined Team Germany at the IIHF World Championships in Czechia this week.
“In this league, it’s tough to score or have chances,” Reichel said, “Even little plays, it’s not going to be perfect. It’s about how you react to mistakes. Everybody makes mistakes — even [Connor] McDavid and [Sidney] Crosby — but their reaction after that is important. I wasn’t good at it early in the season, but I feel like now I’m way better.”
Davidson Was Practical, Almost Generous
Davidson could have given Reichel a one-year qualifying offer of $875,000 this summer after his contract expired to retain his RFA rights. The forward wasn't eligible for arbitration now.
If Reichel can get his game together, the Blackhawks have him at a low cap hit for two years plus an added a year before facing a potential arbitration.
Lukas Reichel talks to reporters.
And he knows the Blackhawks haven't given up on him.
“I think it’s a good opportunity for us to potentially gain some value,” Davidson said. “But also for him to have a little bit of security there, and show that we do believe in him. But, you know what, there’s also a prove-it aspect to this.
“He knows this wasn’t the year he wanted, and so I’m sure he’s going to be putting in the work in the offseason to make sure he’s having a good start to the year in training camp and then hopefully solidify himself as an everyday forward and really take off next year."
And if Reichel comes back strong in the fall, Davidson will come away with a bargain.
"It sort of made sense to give a little bit of trust, so some trust in the player, not necessarily just putting them on a qualifying offer or something, but also building in some potential upside for us," Davidson said. "If he has a really good season, we're not staring down the barrel of an arb(itration) case right after that."
Without a new contract, Reichel would have been an restricted free agent next summer. Now he's signed into Summer 2026, when Bedard, defenseman Kevin Korchinski and other young Chicago players become RFAs and will be in line for big raises.
