Chicago Blackhawks' Lukas Reichel reveals odd friendship with Pat Maroon that started by stealing tobacco

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Joshua Deeds
November 8, 2024 (5:55 PM)

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The Chicago Blackhawks have an odd couple on the ice and they have found a way to be productive.

Lukas Reichel, and Pat Maroon were fixtures on the fourth-line, which is one of the most productive for the Hawks.

The odd couple has some quirks, and they joke around with each other like good friends do. Reichel likes to hide Maroon's chew, despite the fact that the German kid doesn't use nicotine.

«I don't really take chew, but sometimes I steal it from him,» Reichel said Tuesday with a mischievous grin. «He hates it.»

The two have great chemistry and it's shown on ice in their play, Maroon's been part and parcel a huge part of Reichel's ascendancy in the Blackhawks organization.

«He's a funny kid,» Maroon said. «Everyone gets a kick out of him - everyone gets a good laugh at least once a day out of him. I just enjoy seeing his success.

«For young guys, people don't give them enough time. They expect them to come out of the gates and be a superstar right away. Sometimes it takes time for kids to develop and find their way in this league, and I'm just happy he's starting to find that.»

Reichel's main issue was his lack of confidence, and he'd find himself in his head often. He has worked through the issues enough to gain the confidence of Kyle Davidson, and Luke Richardson again to find a spot in the lineup.

But he's needed someone to be a mentor, and friend like Nick Foligno has been for Connor Bedard. That is where the 14-year veteran, who is a 3-time Stanley Cup champion has come into play.

They help each other stay in the moment, chirping each other in between shifts and having fun.

«There's never a bad day in the NHL,» Maroon said. «I try to keep my linemates loose, [so we] just go out there and play the game. You can't be worried about mistakes or what's going to happen.»

Said Reichel: «It's more about having fun on the bench. It's just the way he is. You look at him, and he's a funny guy. It's funny being around him.»

Thanks to the odd couple combination, which Luke Richardson has found by circumstances beyond our own thinking. Reichel is having a career year.

Reichel has been playing solid hockey, with 6 points( 1 G, 5 A) in 11 games and second on the team in five versus five minutes. A complete 180 from last season, from someone who wasn't confident to shoot the puck last season.

Last game Reichel was featured on the top line in Dallas, with 16:46 TOI, taking 17 shifts last night.

In the last 5 games, he's collected two assists and if he can keep producing on the same line as Bedard this year he should break out like we've expected for some time now.