The Chicago Blackhawks Have To Decide What The Plan is For Lukas Reichel

The Chicago Blackhawks drafted Lukas Reichel 17th overall in the 2020 NHL Draft. He found himself struggling until he hit his stride on the fourth line with Pat Maroon and Craig Smith.

Now, struggling again he was removed from the lineup last night during the second-period against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The reason for the benching?

Which I suppose is one way of handling his development. However, given the leash the Blackhawks have already given him, does that mean that Reichel will be another piece the team will have to move either in March or July?

At this point, it seems like they do need to figure out a game plan for the 1st-round pick.

He's not developed the way he's needed to stay in the lineup and has found himself producing more in the bottom six than he ever did with Connor Bedard.

It's more of the same we've seen with other teams with coaches who have a bias towards veterans, and Sorensen has found himself guilty of this.

So what should the Blackhawks do? Honestly, at this point, they should trade him and give him an opportunity with a team that could find some way of utilizing him, whether it's the Utah HC, San Jose Sharks, or Calgary Flames.

With the new blood trickling in, he may not fit the path of the rebuild at this point. Another point against him is that he's a Bowman draft pick.

DailyFaceOff's Frank Seravalli reported in January that teams were interested in the bottom-six forward.

In 50 games played for the Blackhawks this season, he's only scored 11 points (5 G, 6 A) and could be better utilized elsewhere.

The team doesn't seem to extend the same grace it does to TJ Brodie or Alec Martinez that it does to Reichel.

If that is the case, trade him and be done with it.