Lukas Reichel scored his first goal of the 2024-25 season for the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday night in Denver. The only assist on the play went to Craig Smith. That was a nice role reversal for a forward tandem that’s been a surprisingly effective source of offense for the Blackhawks in recent weeks.
Reichel’s goal gives him four points this season. More importantly, with four points in six games and with his increasing confidence, we’re getting dangerously close to seeing the Lukas Reichel fans fell in love with at the end of the 2022-23 season when he had 15 points in 23 games.
And his three assists have all come on Smith goals, meaning those two have been connected on all of Reichel’s offensive output this season.
Meanwhile, the 35-year-old Smith has five points this season, four of which are connected with Reichel. When you consider he had 20 points in 75 games last year, he’s off to a (relatively) blistering start offensively as well.
Maybe, just maybe, it’s okay — dare I say it’s good coaching — to put players in the right spot with the right player(s) who complement their abilities.
I know Reichel was a first round pick and there are going to remain a lot of fans who think being drafted that high somehow means a player should somehow have to ascend to a top-six role. And I know Smith being an older veteran who plays a good two-way game and is willing to block shots sticks him in a fourth-line role in the eyes of many fans.
But we need to remember one key reality: First, second, third and fourth lines are listed in a hierarchy on paper before the puck drops. How and when players are deployed, and putting them in positions to maximize their potential to impact a game, is what matters most.
And right now, the Blackhawks are getting really good returns from the marriage of Reichel and Smith.
A Productive Pair of Blackhawks Forwards
According to Natural Stat Trick, the two forwards have been together on the ice for 35:51 of 5-on-5 ice time in their six games together. During that time, the Blackhawks have out-shot their opponents 24-17 and have out-scored their opponents 4-2.
Reichel has been on the ice at 5-on-5 for 20:16 without Smith. The Blackhawks have been out-shot 10-5 and neither team has scored during that time.
Smith has been on the ice at 5-on-5 for 41:09 (in eight games) without Reichel. The Blackhawks have been out-scored 4-1 in that time (but have out-shot their opponents 23-17).
Remember, Smith was a healthy scratch earlier this season before Reichel joined the lineup. In two games before Reichel got into the lineup, Smith had two shots on goal and was minus-two. Since Reichel joined the lineup, Smith 13 shots on goal and is an even player in six games.
Meanwhile, Reichel has a shot on goal in every game he’s appeared in this season. One of the sticking points with his play is that he hasn’t been selfish enough. He’s done that more consistently as he’s felt more comfortable in the rotation.
It certainly appears they’re good for each other.
And the Blackhawks are getting better results with them playing their roles together.