Lukas Reichel Explained

Lukas Reichel
Birth Date:17 May 2002
Birth Place:Nuremberg, Germany
Height Ft:6
Height In:0
Weight Lb:176
Position:Left wing
Shoots:Left
League:NHL
Team:Chicago Blackhawks
Prospect League:AHL
Former Teams:Eisbären Berlin
Ntl Team:DEU
Draft:17th overall
Draft Year:2020
Draft Team:Chicago Blackhawks
Career Start:2019

Lukas Reichel (born 17 May 2002) is a German professional ice hockey left winger for the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Playing career

Reichel played as a youth in the German Development League (DNL) with Starbulls Rosenheim and within the Eisbären Berlin organization. He made his Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL) debut with Eisbären Berlin during the 2019–20 season. He was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft with the 17th overall pick.[1]

On 9 June 2021, Reichel was signed to a three-year, entry-level contract with the Chicago Blackhawks.[2]

Reichel made his NHL-debut on 13 January 2022, against the Montreal Canadiens in a 3–2 victory.[3] He appeared in 11 games got the Blackhawks during the remainder of the 2021–22 NHL season, where he registered one assist.[4] Reichel failed to make the opening day roster for the Blackhawks heading into the 2022–23 NHL season.[5] He was instead sent down to the team's American Hockey League affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs, where he spent most of the season.[5] Reichel tallied 20 goals and 31 assists in 55 games for Rockford. He was recalled to the Blackhawks for 23 gamers during the same season, where he put up seven goals and eight assists.[5]

Reichel made the Blackhawks' opening day roster for the 2023–24 NHL season. He failed to bring his AHL-level of production to the Blackhawks, and was moved from centre to wing following inconsistent play. Reichel, who was a healthy scratch for five games during the season, was sent down to Rockford on 18 February 2024 after mustering only 10 points in 50 games for the Blackhawks.[6] The Blackhawks recalled him on March 15, where he played in the remaining 15 games of the season.[7] Reichel finished the season with 5 goals and 11 assists in 65 games with the Blackhawks.[8] He was reassigned to Rockford following the end of the Blackhawks' 2023–24 season to help the IceHogs in the 2024 Calder Cup playoffs.

At the conclusion of the season, and as a pending restricted free agent, Reichel was re-signed by the Blackhawks to a two-year, $2.4 million contract extension on 7 May 2024.[9]

Personal life

He is the son of Czech-German hockey player Martin Reichel, and the nephew of former NHLer and Olympic gold medal winner Robert Reichel.[10]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular seasonPlayoffs
Team LeagueGP PIMGP G A Pts PIM
2017–18 DNL18 13 16 29 4
2018–19 Eisbären Juniors Berlin DNL32 11 31 42 45 3 4 7 0
DEL42 12 12 24 0
Eisbären Berlin DEL38 10 17 27 69 2 3 5 4
AHL56 21 36 57 65 2 0 2 0
NHL11 0 1 1 0
Rockford IceHogs AHL55 20 31 51 125 1 0 1 0
Chicago Blackhawks NHL23 7 8 15 6
Chicago Blackhawks NHL65 5 11 16 12
Rockford IceHogs AHL10 1 7 8 44 2 2 4 0
DEL totals80 22 29 51 69 2 3 5 4
NHL totals99 12 20 32 18

International

YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2019GermanyU18-D111th5 3 2 5 0
2020GermanyWJC9th7 3 2 5 0
2021GermanyWC4th9 2 4 6 0
2022GermanyWC7th4 2 3 5 0
2024GermanyWC6th6 3 4 7 0
Junior totals12 6 4 10 0
Senior totals19 7 11 18 0

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Pope . Ben . Blackhawks select forward Lukas Reichel with No. 17 pick in 2020 NHL Draft . Chicago Sun-Times . 10 June 2021 . 6 October 2020.
  2. Web site: Blackhawks agree to terms with Lukas Reichel . . 9 June 2021 . 9 June 2021.
  3. News: Montemurro . Meghan . Chicago Blackhawks top prospect Lukas Reichel makes a strong 1st impression in his NHL debut, a 3-2 overtime win: 'I had so much fun out there' . . 13 January 2022 . 18 February 2024 .
  4. News: Lukas Reichel Stats . Hockey Reference . 18 February 2024 . 18 February 2024.
  5. News: Blackhawks put Lukas Reichel back in lineup after healthy scratch . SportsNet . 5 December 2023 . 18 February 2024 .
  6. News: Roumeliotis . Charlie . Blackhawks assign Lukas Reichel to AHL's Rockford IceHogs amid year-long slump . NBC Sports Chicago . 18 February 2024 . 18 February 2024 .
  7. News: RELEASE: Blackhawks Recall Reichel, Assign Sanford . NHL . 2024-03-15 . 2024-04-19 .
  8. News: Blackhawks' Lukas Reichel: Reassigned to AHL . CBS Sports . 2024-04-19 . 2024-04-19 .
  9. Web site: Blackhawks sign Lukas Reichel to two-year contract extension . . 7 May 2024 . 7 May 2024 .
  10. Web site: Lukas Reichel. 2020-10-08. Elite Prospects.
  11. Web site: New champion in unique DEL season . . 8 May 2021 . 8 May 2021.