Blackhawks Trading Young Forward Would Come With Big Risk

Chicago Blackhawks forward Lukas Reichel has been the subject of trade rumors this off-season. It is not necessarily surprising, as the young forward has had trouble finding his fit with the Original Six club thus far. 

During this past season with the Blackhawks, Reichel posted eight goals, 22 points, and a minus-16 rating in 70 games. This was after he had five goals, 16 points, and a minus-29 rating in 65 contests with Chicago in 2023-24. Overall, he has yet to break out, so it is understandable that many have wondered about his future in Chicago. 

Yet, if the Blackhawks do end up moving on from Reichel, it would come with risk. At just 23 years old, Reichel is still young enough that he could hit a new level. There is a reason why the Blackhawks selected him with the 17th overall pick of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. The possibility of him emerging as a solid offensive contributor remains, and it would sting for the Blackhawks if he took a step forward with his game after being traded to another team. He also demonstrated promise with the Blackhawks back in 2022-23, posting seven goals and 15 points in just 23 games.

With the Blackhawks still rebuilding, it would not hurt for them to give Reichel one last chance on their roster next season. If he taps a bit more into his potential, he could become a nice part of Chicago's roster. Yet, we will need to wait and see what happens between Reichel and the Blackhawks this off-season from here. 

New Blackhawks Forward Is Intriguing AdditionAfter having a busy summer last year, the

Photo Credit:  © Talia Sprague-Imagn Images