The Blackhawks were back to practice on Wednesday after taking Tuesday off and the big news is a position change among the top-six.
For the first time this season, 2020 first-round pick Lukas Reichel was moved from center to wing, although he remained on the team’s second line:
Reichel’s primary source of frustration this season appears to be his lack of production: he remains without a point after nine games.
The Reichel-to-the-wing move may not be a permanent one, though, and Reichel sounded like someone who hopes that isn’t the case:
Coach Luke Richardson also said the Hawks may move Reichel back to center down the road:
Elsewhere in team news, injured forward Taylor Hall remains sidelined with a shoulder injury but was out on the ice before practice, a sign that he’s progressing towards an eventual return:
Speaking of injured players on the path to returning, Richardson provided the following update on defenseman Alex Vlasic, who remains in concussion protocol:
The Blackhawks will not practice on Thursday but will almost certainly be back on the practice ice on Friday before a pair of weekend games at the United Center: Saturday against the Florida Panthers and Sunday against the New Jersey Devils.