The Blackhawks are knee-deep in a big problem with former first round pick Lukas Reichel
Photo credit: CHGO Sports
The Chicago Blackhawks' dismal loss to the Minnesota Wild, had some major red flags.
One of those was how the team lacked effort on the ice, few players were able to shoulder the burden of the audacity required to win.
With Jason Dickinson and Connor Bedard being the only goal-scorers last night, we should take a closer look at Lukas Reichel who wasn't a factor at all last night.
Of those players who deserve a closer look, is Lukas Reichel who is a former 1st-round pick, 17th overall in 2020.
He's been up and down the lineup, due to a lack of confidence and would play 65 games with the Blackhawks last season only posting 16 points( 5 G, 11 A). They'd ship him down to the AHL in order to give him a confidence boost, which resulted in an 8-point(1 G, 7 A) streak in 10 games.
It seemed like he'd found his game again, and now after last night, it seems we're back to square one.
The line of Lukas Reichel, Andreas Athanasiou and Taylor Hall would have been an improvement if it had been a non-factor based on how detrimental it was to the team's overall success in this game.
Reichel had an unfortunate series of events last night, which were well documented as the Reichel, Athanasiou, and Hall line just wasn't working out:
According to Natural Stat Trick, the line of Taylor Hall, Athanasiou and Reichel was together on the ice for only 6:33 of 5-on-5 ice time last night. The shot attempts were 14-0 in favor of the Wild.
Thus far in the preseason, Reichel and Athanasiou have spent 4:16 together on the ice at 5-on-5 (all last night). The Blackhawks were out-shot 4-1 in that time.
Thus far in the preseason, Reichel and Athanasiou have spent 4:16 together on the ice at 5-on-5 (all last night). The Blackhawks were out-shot 4-1 in that time.
Reichel's been terrible defensively in the preseason and hasn't been able to generate offense in the bottom six. Why? It's because he doesn't fit there, he could fit in Philipp Kurashev's spot, but again it's Kurashev's 2C spot and he hasn't earned it.
Kurashev has proven himself last season, as someone who can generate offense and built chemistry with Connor Bedard.
So where does this place Reichel in the lineup? With Pat Maroon, and Craig Smith being the grinders on the 4th line, could it be a fact that Reichel is destined for the AHL once again?
Or has his time expired with the Chicago Blackhawks?
Either way, he seems to be the odd man out and unable to be the factor the team needs offensively.
If he's sent to the AHL, this could also free up a spot for a prospect as well.
We'll see what Kyle Davidson decides to due with Reichel, and in the meantime, that game last night was unbearably rough.
Source: Second city Hockey
Runaway Train: Wild 7, Blackhawks 2
Runaway Train: Wild 7, Blackhawks 2
Source: Bleacher Nation
The Blackhawks Have Two Unfortunately Familiar Problems
The Blackhawks Have Two Unfortunately Familiar Problems
| POLL | ||
OCTOBRE 2 | 74 ANSWERS The Blackhawks are knee-deep in a big problem with former first round pick Lukas Reichel Should the Blackhawks and Kyle Davidson send Lukas Reichel to the AHL or trade him? | ||
| Trade Him | 44 | 59.5 % |
| AHL | 30 | 40.5 % |
| List of polls | ||
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