Blackhawks' Lukas Reichel now understands the value of battling for every puck
Lukas Reichel's goal Saturday demonstrated all the tools that once made him the Blackhawks' most exciting prospect.The 22-year-old German sped down the center lane on the counterattack, corralled a puck Nick Foligno chipped into the neutral zone, turned on his jets to blow past Golden Knights defenseman Nicolas Hague and showed off his soft hands and creativity to deke and shoot past goalie Ilya Samsonov for a highlight-reel tally.Those skills unfortunately haven't translated into as much NHL productivity as previously expected. That was Reichel's fourth goal and 13th point in 39 games this season. He has just 29 points in 104 games over the last two seasons combined.But he's also adding new skills and habits into his portfolio. Seconds before that rush, for example, he backchecked below his goal line and bumped Knights forward Brett Howden enough to give Colton Dach time and space to get the puck to Foligno.And over the past week especially, Reichel has been more engaged, physical and effective in puck battles."It's something we've wanted him to do," interim coach Anders Sorensen said Friday. "[He's] much more involved, [getting] much more into hands and winning those 50/50 [battles] more. ... The last few games have been some of his best games in terms of the compete factor and the work ethic off the puck."Reichel won three or four different battles — with help from Foligno and Dach — on an important third-period shift to kill clock in the offensive zone with a two-goal lead. He set up dangerous scoring chances for both linemates on speedy rushes on other shifts."If we can use our big bodies to try to get [Lukas] some space to dart...he's so dangerous," Foligno said. "To see him have the confidence to put that one in, I'm really thrilled for him. His game has been building. He has been [getting] over pucks and battling. When you have that element plus the skill and speed he has, you start to dictate games." Lukas Reichel would like a word???????? pic.twitter.com/4EFvufBSMm— Blackhawks on CHSN (@CHSN_Blackhawks) January 19, 2025 Reichel was humbled by his struggles last season. This season has been about rebuilding his confidence in a different silo.He's coming to accept he's not going to be a top-six star in the NHL and understand he can still be a solid player in a middle- or bottom-six role. His speed remains the crucial ingredient in this new formula, but it needs to be accompanied by more responsibility, scrappiness and consistency.One thing that has clicked in his brain this month is that he doesn't always need to have a play or idea drawn up in his head before engaging in a situation. He needs to simply get involved — to hustle for loose pucks, keep his feet moving and activate his stick. Then he can figure out the next step in the moment.Even if it doesn't lead to a pretty play, he might at least be able to advance the puck over the blue line — or tie it up long enough for a teammate to join the battle or make a line change. Work ethic makes a difference in so many ways. "It's more a mental thing to go in there and try to win every battle," Reichel said Friday. "Some games you just don't have it, but you can at least have an impact — like [telling yourself], 'I'm going to win that battle.' That's what I want to focus on."Since Sorensen's arrival, Reichel ranks fourth on the team in five-on-five expected-goals ratio (49.1%).Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli reported this week the Hawks have received calls about his availability, but trading him now — or anytime soon — would be a mistake.The Hawks need to start committing to players in their early 20s eventually, and although Reichel doesn't seem likely to reach his ceiling, there are other useful niches he could fill.
Lukas Reichel's goal Saturday demonstrated all the tools that once made him the Blackhawks' most exciting prospect.
The 22-year-old German sped down the center lane on the counterattack, corralled a puck Nick Foligno chipped into the neutral zone, turned on his jets to blow past Golden Knights defenseman Nicolas Hague and showed off his soft hands and creativity to deke and shoot past goalie Ilya Samsonov for a highlight-reel tally.
Those skills unfortunately haven't translated into as much NHL productivity as previously expected. That was Reichel's fourth goal and 13th point in 39 games this season. He has just 29 points in 104 games over the last two seasons combined.
But he's also adding new skills and habits into his portfolio. Seconds before that rush, for example, he backchecked below his goal line and bumped Knights forward Brett Howden enough to give Colton Dach time and space to get the puck to Foligno.
And over the past week especially, Reichel has been more engaged, physical and effective in puck battles.
"It's something we've wanted him to do," interim coach Anders Sorensen said Friday. "[He's] much more involved, [getting] much more into hands and winning those 50/50 [battles] more. ... The last few games have been some of his best games in terms of the compete factor and the work ethic off the puck."
Reichel won three or four different battles — with help from Foligno and Dach — on an important third-period shift to kill clock in the offensive zone with a two-goal lead. He set up dangerous scoring chances for both linemates on speedy rushes on other shifts.
"If we can use our big bodies to try to get [Lukas] some space to dart...he's so dangerous," Foligno said. "To see him have the confidence to put that one in, I'm really thrilled for him. His game has been building. He has been [getting] over pucks and battling. When you have that element plus the skill and speed he has, you start to dictate games."
Lukas Reichel would like a word???????? pic.twitter.com/4EFvufBSMm— Blackhawks on CHSN (@CHSN_Blackhawks) January 19, 2025
Reichel was humbled by his struggles last season. This season has been about rebuilding his confidence in a different silo.
He's coming to accept he's not going to be a top-six star in the NHL and understand he can still be a solid player in a middle- or bottom-six role. His speed remains the crucial ingredient in this new formula, but it needs to be accompanied by more responsibility, scrappiness and consistency.
One thing that has clicked in his brain this month is that he doesn't always need to have a play or idea drawn up in his head before engaging in a situation. He needs to simply get involved — to hustle for loose pucks, keep his feet moving and activate his stick. Then he can figure out the next step in the moment.
Even if it doesn't lead to a pretty play, he might at least be able to advance the puck over the blue line — or tie it up long enough for a teammate to join the battle or make a line change. Work ethic makes a difference in so many ways.
"It's more a mental thing to go in there and try to win every battle," Reichel said Friday. "Some games you just don't have it, but you can at least have an impact — like [telling yourself], 'I'm going to win that battle.' That's what I want to focus on."
Since Sorensen's arrival, Reichel ranks fourth on the team in five-on-five expected-goals ratio (49.1%).
Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli reported this week the Hawks have received calls about his availability, but trading him now — or anytime soon — would be a mistake.
The Hawks need to start committing to players in their early 20s eventually, and although Reichel doesn't seem likely to reach his ceiling, there are other useful niches he could fill.
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