BREAKING: Blackhawks finally trade Lukas Reichel

The Lukas Reichel era has come to an end. The Chicago Blackhawks have traded the 23-year-old forward to the Vancouver Canucks for a 2027 fourth-round draft pick.

It has been no secret that the Blackhawks were looking to move Reichel since the end of last season. However, the former first-round pick’s trade value has been at an all-time low. Many felt he would have been traded before the start of the season, but a deal never materialized until today.

Some might wonder why the Blackhawks didn’t try to acquire a player in a similar situation to Reichel. Nick Robertson of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Columbus Blue Jackets’ forward Yegor Chinakhov are two players rumored to be on the market. However, getting back another “change of scenery” likely wasn’t possible, nor necessary.

Reichel’s inability to consistently produce at the NHL level wiped out his trade value on the market. Players like Robertson and Chinakhov have more value to NHL general managers than Reichel. Plus, moving him out for a draft pick clears a spot on the crowded Blackhawks roster.

Today’s trade is disappointing because Reichel showed so much promise at the end of the 2022-23 season, but has never replicated that success. The truth is, Reichel was once viewed as an important piece of the rebuild. However, he’s been passed up by numerous recent draft picks, and there just isn’t a spot for him in Chicago anymore. Hopefully, Reichel can make it work in Vancouver.