Blackhawks’ Lukas Reichel Set to Make Season Debut
After being a healthy scratch for the Chicago Blackhawks’ opening four-game trip, Lukas Reichel is finally getting his chance to shine. The 22-year-old forward is expected to center the team’s fourth line alongside veterans Pat Maroon and Craig Smith in their home opener against the San Jose Sharks on Thursday night.
A Fresh Start
Coach Luke Richardson believes the matchup with the Sharks is the perfect opportunity to put Reichel in, citing their fast-paced, hard-working style as a great fit for the young player’s skills. “He’s a skater, and we need to see him make lots of bursts tonight,” Richardson said. “He needs to have confidence with the puck and make plays, not just one-and-done.”
Injury Updates
The Blackhawks also made some roster moves before the game, placing defenseman Alec Martinez on injured reserve due to a right groin injury. Fellow defenseman Isaak Phillips was recalled from Rockford of the AHL to fill the gap. Martinez, who signed a $4 million, one-year contract with the Blackhawks in free agency, skated in each of the team’s first four games.
Goalie and Defenseman Updates
Coach Richardson had no update on goaltender Laurent Brossoit, who had meniscus surgery on his right knee on August 27, or defenseman Artyom Levshunov, the No. 2 overall pick in this year’s NHL draft, who is recovering from a right foot injury. Both players have been on the ice, but are not yet ready to join the team in practice.
Reichel’s Road to Redemption
The 22-year-old Reichel, a first-round pick in the 2020 entry draft, has struggled with inconsistency since his NHL debut almost three years ago. Despite showing promise with four goals and four assists in his last eight games with Chicago during the 2022-23 season, he only managed five goals and 11 assists in 65 games last year. Reichel acknowledged the difficulty of sitting out at the beginning of this season, but is focused on staying positive and controlling what he can. “You want to play every game, but… you just got to focus on what you can control,” he said.
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