Chicago Blackhawks Forwards Surprise AHL Demotion Incoming

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Sam Walker
February 17, 2024 (11:17)

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There's trouble for one of the Blackhawks' former top prospects.

Reichel finds himself in a tough spot after a disappointing game against the Vancouver Canucks, prompting the Blackhawks to bench him.

Richardson expressed concerns about Reichel's confidence, leading to him sitting out the next game against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

"We realize when players are down on themselves, we need to push them to get over that,"

Richardson said.

Reichel wanted more ice time and chances to shoot, but his recent stats aren't great. He's had only three shots in his last eight games, with just one on goal.

«We realize when players are down on themselves and we don't want to pile on but it's the NHL. We have to somehow push them to get over that, and a lot of that's internally with the player. We can only do so much.»

Despite Richardson's efforts, Reichel is expected to stay sidelined for the next game. There's talk of sending him to the AHL to regain his confidence.

This season, Reichel hasn't performed as well as last season, when he showed promise with 7 goals and 8 assists in 23 games before going to Rockford. In the AHL, he did better with 51 points, including 20 goals and 31 assists in 55 games.

Reichel needs to work on his game and confidence to avoid another demotion.