Blackhawks: The pros and cons of calling up Lukas Reichel
The Chicago Blackhawks have a top prospect in Rockford right now playing some great hockey. Should they consider calling Lukas Reichel up to the NHL for a chance in the NHL?
Blackhawks prospects Lukas Reichel is the organizations’ number one prospect at this time, and he has not played an NHL game yet.
Reichel was drafted in the first round of the 2020 draft by then general manager Stan Bowman. Since then, Reichel has only gotten better and is someone that very well could be in the lineup at this point and time for the team.
With the Blackhawks struggling out of the gate this season, they could use all the help they can get in the offensive and defensive zone. Before we jump into the pros and cons of moving him up to the NHL. Let’s talk a little about who Reichel is. Lukas Reichel was drafted 17th overall in 2020 by the Chicago Blackhawks.
He does not have a lot of size as he is only 6’0″ and weighs 170 pounds according to eliteprospects. The young forward is 19 years old and through the first eights games of the AHL season with the IceHogs, he has eights points, six goals, and two assists.
In his last game, he happened to score a hattrick.
The pros to calling up Lukas Reichel now.
1. That is what the season is all about.
The Chicago Blackhawks have started off 2-9-2 on the year. That is not going to get them into the playoffs. This season is now all about next year and the year after that. Reichel is definitely going to be a part of that next group of players so why not give him some NHL time to see what he can do against the best of the best.
2. He is familiar with the coach.
Lukas Reichel has been with the Rockford IceHogs all season. Up until Saturday, Derek King was his head coach in Rockford. If King has been brought up why not bring Reichel with him. This is the coach he knows and is comfortable with, and maybe that can spark something offensively for the young forward, or of course, they could just keep bringing up Reese Johnson instead.
3. The team could use someone with that skill.
Reichel definitely is one of the team’s top 12 forwards in the organization. They could use him on a line with Kirby Dach or Jonathan Toews and add to the depth in the lineup. Calling Reichel up is the right decision for a team trying to win some games and make this season look a little more respectable. Now let’s jump in with the cons.
The cons of calling up Lukas Reichel now.
1. Rushing him up like a lot of other prospects.
The Blackhawks have rushed a lot of young prospects in the past. I know that those decision-makers are not here anymore, but the fact is that Adam Boqvist, Henri Jokiharju, Teuvo Teravainen, Nick Schmaltz, and Ryan Hartman are all no longer with the team despite being drafted in the first round.
Moving up Reichel might be rushing his development for little reward during a season that has already started off so poorly.
2. Takes a spot away from a potential trade piece.
If the Hawks were to call up Reichel he would obviously be in the lineup. The team wouldn’t give Reichel a spot in the lineup only for it to be the 13th forward not playing very often. If Reichel is on the roster he will be in the lineup eating up some minutes with the team. That might not be the best thing for a team wanting to take this time to give guys like Ryan Carpenter and Adam Gaudette as much ice time as possible to bring up their trade value ahead of the deadline later this season.
3. Wait until the decision-makers are in place.
Derek King and Kyle Davidson both have the word interim next to their titles of coach and general manager. They are not the ones making the decisions for the franchise in the long term, which means they would be better off waiting for whoever will be here in the long haul to call up Reichel.
Reichel is a player that can be with this team for the next ten-plus seasons. Rather than let this current group of management stunt his development by calling him up before he is ready, they should wait for the next group of people to come in and direct the team.
What the Blackhawks should do.
The Blackhawks should wait until later in the year before calling up Reichel. Reichel should keep getting top-line minutes in the AHL facing off against the best of the best competition he possibly can in the AHL.
This move would be the right call for the organization as they continue to struggle on ice in the NHL. Rather than risk giving Reichel the wrong habits by playing on a struggling team, he can be in his own world with the IceHogs then join the organization after the deadline for the remainder of the season.
Blackhawks: Ten Thoughts After Ten Games In The 2021-22 Season
Lukas Reichel is still only 19 years old. He has a lot of hockey ahead of him, and there is no reason to rush that young player into the NHL anytime soon. Although it will be fun to watch his highlights all season long with the IceHogs. Hopefully, he can score another hat trick soon!