3. Lukas Reichel
Lukas Reichel is finally going to be with the Chicago Blackhawks all year.
Like Kevin Korchinski, Lukas Reichel has made the team out of camp. Unlike Kevin Korchinski, Reichel has already made his NHL debut and shown some good things. After the way last season went for him, he has to be super excited to get this year going.
Reichel was up and down between the NHL and AHL this season. That is unlikely to happen as he is clearly one of the 12 best forwards in the organization and there is little more he can learn by playing in the AHL.
This team wants him to be a center to create depth and that is how things are going to go for him early on. If it is clear that he is better suited on the wing, that change will be made but there is no doubt that seeing him as a center would be better in the long term.
Reichel has a high pedigree as well. He was the Chicago Blackhawks’ first-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft. The German forward has a ton of skills as both goal-scoring and playmaking are something that he can do at this level.
He showed flashes in 2022-23 and this season will see him take another big step. Make sure you are watching him.