What’s seemed like an inevitably for the last few weeks became a reality on Sunday morning.
According to the AHL transaction log, the Blackhawks have sent forward Lukas Reichel to the Rockford IceHogs.
Reichel, a 2020 first-round pick (17th overall), was a healthy scratch for the last two Chicago games and has just 10 points (3 G, 7 A) in the 50 games he’s played this season with an average ice time of 14:24. He hasn’t scored a goal since Dec. 19 against the Colorado Avalanche and has just two points — both assists — in his last 20 games.
It’s certainly not encouraging for Reichel to be struggling this much in his first full NHL season, which was supposed to be the beginning of his steps forward into becoming a future fixture of the Blackhawks’ top six. But this demotion also does not necessarily spell the end of his tenure in Chicago, either. Reichel was excellent in Rockford last season, racking up 51 points (20 G, 31 A) in 55 games. Perhaps this trip up I-90 will restore some of the confidence that appears to be woefully lacking in Reichel’s mind at the moment.
Reichel becomes a restricted free agent this summer, and the cost to re-sign him will be wildly affordable, given how this season has unfolded. And Reichel will also turn just 22 years old in May, so there’s plenty of time left for him to figure it out. But doing that sooner would be beneficial to everyone involved — Reichel included.