Lukas Reichel is back in Chicago, and according to Blackhawks interim head coach Derek King, he’ll be put in some different situations this time around. King kicked off Reichel’s third stint in Chicago this season by putting the 19-year-old on the wing with Jonathan Toews and Kirby Dach as the trio worked together this morning at practice.
Lukas Reichel gets some one-on-one time with Derek King after practice. pic.twitter.com/uo215UlRDV
— Patrick K. Flowers (@PatrickKFlowers) April 6, 2022
Reichel has played center in all 49 of his games with Rockford this season (plus the five that he has played with the Blackhawks in two previous call-ups), but King believes that playing him on the wing will help him avoid worrying about spending so much time playing down low.
When asked about his feelings about playing on the wing at practice today, Reichel said that it’s nice to get some run with Jonathan Toews and Kirby Dach, and he’s excited about the opportunity. Reichel pointed out that he played some wing when he was in juniors, and despite not playing there since, he’s not afraid of the change. Reichel said he doesn’t care where he’s playing as long as it’s a forward position.
Lukas Reichel said that he played some wing in juniors but he’s not concerned with playing over there in Chicago. Reichel joked that as long as he’s playing a forward position it doesn’t matter. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/Rg95GG7dle
— Patrick K. Flowers (@PatrickKFlowers) April 6, 2022
Reichel has been terrific in Rockford this season, logging 49 points (21 goals, 28 assists) in 49 games, playing at a point-per-game pace in his first taste of action stateside. His five games in Chicago haven’t been as good, with Reichel still looking for his first NHL point and only eight shots in his five games with the Blackhawks.
Derek King isn’t sure how long Reichel will be here this time, but he said he’d be playing him while he is here and putting him in different situations. Rockford is on the cusp of a playoff appearance, and there’s a possibility that Reichel ends up heading back to the IceHogs to help them out in that regard. Still, again, King wasn’t sure whether or not that would have any bearing on how long he will be in Chicago.
Then there’s the fact that Reichel’s entry-level deal will kick in this season and not slide to next season if he plays five more games with the Blackhawks. Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson said that he’s not concerned with that either way.
Despite not having any real success on the stat sheet during his first two stints with Chicago this season, Reichel says that the exposure to the NHL game this season has been something he’s valued in his development and acknowledged that the NHL game is very different –“Everyone’s better, it’s harder, it’s faster.”