Lukas Reichel Named AHL Player of the Week
On Monday the AHL announced that forward Lukas Reichel has been named the AHL Player of the Week for the period ending January 9, 2022.
Reichel, the Blackhawks’ first-round pick (No. 17 overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft, posted three goals and three assists two games last week.
The 19-year-old leads the IceHogs in both goals (11) and points (20). The question now is when we’ll see him helping the offensively-challenged NHL club…
great news and it appears he is making great use of his time in rockford. i am still on the side of not rushing him to chicago. a nine game indoctrination at the end of the year would be fine with me if that saves a year on his elc.
a question in that regard. would it be nine games played or nine games on the roster whether he dresses or not? if just games played i would be good with him coming up mid march, practicing with the team, and only playing nine games.
wonder what boqvist would have looked like if he played a full year at rockford.
Bring him up!!!
Now!!!
@Hawks 29
I agree 100% on letting him percolate in the Rock and bring him up for the 9 game cup of coffee at the end of the year. I think it’s being on the active roster that determines the 9 game rule for the elc.
Boquist/Dach/Forsling/Joki the list is long of Stan bringing up players before they are ready
To me the question boils down to two points. 1) How much more is he going to learn playing in the AHL? And 2) Can he handle the physicality of the NHL at 19?
Not sure how much more being in the AHL is going to help him, I think he is getting really close to seeing if he can handle the NHL. Regarding the ELC issue… I am torn on the ELC question for him. On the one hand, I really want the Hawks draft pick they lose to the Blue Jackets to be as high as possible so having Reichel on the roster gives the Hawks an offensive talent they don’t currently have. On the other hand, he isn’t really going to help the team much right now and could be a great asset to control down the road as they go through the dregs of a rebuild.
Honestly though, I really want to see him play at the NHL level just to see what he can do. But the Hawks better have a guy in the lineup who will lay someone out if the opposition decides to rough him up…
I really want to see him come up and play somewhere between 10-12 minutes a night and see where it goes. If he takes to it, increase his role and responsibilities.
Weren’t some ahl games cancelles this past week? Either way good for him. Sounds like the wolves played a bad game despite having a good record.
Stanbowman often burned elc years or whatver it’s called, given all circumstances i wouldn’t call him up.
Short of ruining a players confidence…..I know years past a lot of ahl games would take place on weekend, would see a game Fri Sat and Sunday. If said schedule is the case I would seriously send Dach down for a weekend and give him the toews faceoff routine, take the faveoff go back to the bench.
Lots of players the ahl rehab or work on specific things. One weekend for threee games in the minors specifically to work on faceoffs would not be the end of kirby Dachs career, in fact it could turn into quite the opposite.
Too bad Stanbo got oustered in some regards. Would not shock me if team USA in the Olympics featured five Blackhawks in jones, kane, debrincat, Murphy, and McCabe. OhWell.
Hawks29, i don’t believe in the elc slide should be a priority in development, if they are ready for Nhl they are ready. Chances are when it comes time to sign next contract agents will remember, what you save on one end is made up on the other.
I think the issue that they are looking at is the 40 games needed to gain ufa status a year earlier. Right now that would be after the January 26th game against Red Wings is their 43rd game and make reaching 40 games impossible without playoffs. Expect any time after that Reichel could be btought up.
With Dach only playing 18 games last season, I assume that didn’t count as a season against his Ufa status, believe it was prorated at 28 games for short season. Nylanders didn’ t count against expansion draft eligibility because of injury, so assume same rules apply. Dach did lose 1 year for his rookie season so should be ufa at 26 years old now.
Well seeing he has a bodyguard now I think he should stay right where he is and mature. Call him up at the end of the year, play him a couple of games and see how he does. Quit rushing players up and let him develop a little more. What they should be doing is finding a HOCKEY GUY to straighten out the organization, but they claim they are still “looking”.
Hammer not adocating they call him up, just speculating by recent comments from King, that they would be calling him up soon and when that might be. He has played in Germans top mens league last year and handling Ahl quite easily, so he does look like he could be ready for a callup, “ready” the key word there.
I watched this kid play twice last month, and let me tell you that he is ready hockey wise. Where he is not ready is physically. He needs to get stronger, and that will only happen in the off-season with a real NHL training staff.
I would bring the kid up and play him a bit with Kane, some with Towes, DeBrincat, Dach, and see how he measures up and let him learn, but mostly I’d play him on the 3rd line with Slavin and Entwhistle.
The AHL is full of Slap Shot goons. I swear I saw Dr. Hook McCracken and Ogie Oglethorpe on the ice. The AHL is no place for a nice German lad who wears lederhosen under his uniform.
Quit rushing the kids to the nhl.
Let Reichel play big minutes in all situations in the AHL while being the main guy.
Is it really going to help his development to no doubt play less than 10 minutes a game in Chicago…”NO”
Would player agents ever take it easy on Chicago’s management during contact negotiations? “ABSOLUTELY NOT”
Ian: I hear you but wouldn’t it be better to see what the G.M. thinks about that?? You know the guy that they are “looking” for to make that decision?? We don’t even know if King is the right guy to teach the kid. It would be just like the Hawks to screw up another potential good player. A commentor just said he’s not ready physically and if that’s true why would you even chance him yet being with the big club?? Haven’t they learned their lesson with that yet?? Keep him down there until the end, let him play a bit and let the new GM(not the friggen video analyst who learned from StanBo) make the right decision with him.
Leave him in Rockford and maybe ..I say maybe when the Hawks trade a few big pieces in feb or at the limit day of trading .then you can bring him for a 8-9 games just to see where he is in his development…but physically he is not a NHL player yet I think specially after is missing games lately. Maybe next year .
I’d say let him learn the craft in the A and maybe at year end bring him up for a few games ! I enjoy some of the comments from Tommy Ivan and miroslav and Stapleton ,but it’s up to the organization and some of those hockey guys with Decades of experience as to when he should make the step up to the show ! Those that have never played the game have no clue , but, they fire out some comments as to how things should be done ! I love reading some of the opinions ! He has to stay focused and improve his stride and speed as he will find out how fast and heavy the show is !
Best to him ! Pops 4
Stan tells Boquist he won’t be traded….then he’s traded and learns about it on Instagram
https://www.bleachernation.com/blackhawks/2022/01/10/adam-boqvist-was-told-he-wouldnt-be-traded-before-being-traded/
#CBJ defenseman Adam Boqvist said his agent had been told by the Blackhawks that he wouldn’t be traded, so the deal this summer was a bit of a surprise. He actually found out on Instagram about the trade, but that’s the biz. “I’m happy in Columbus. This is where I want to be.”
— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) January 10, 2022
Hammer, King was coaching him in Rfd. to start and was supposed to all year, until promoted after Bowman left, so more than him thought he was the right guy to coach him i guess. That was my point the others mentioned had no where close to the preperation Reichel already has. Dach right to Nhl after the draft, Boqvist and Joki back to juniors for a year then to Nhl the next fall. Reichel has a year in mens league in Germany, then half a year in Ahl, exactly what posters are saying the others needed first. Is he ready, not my call, they have people paid to decide that, but sounds like he is coming before long like it or not.
I’m in on Reichel coming up soon and if it appears he’s not ready then he can go back down – no harm done
But he might be ready – let’s find out
I’m for shifting Reichel to Center and waiting until the end of the year to bring him up. Again, he was a very good Center with Germany. Unless Dach has the faceoff bird of paradise drop a load on his head, he isn’t going to get much better. A top line of DeBrincat-Reichel-Hagel would be fun. If they keep him at LW…then I would hope they drop him to the 2nd line so as to avoid pressure. Reichel-Toews-Kane. Regardless, leave him in Rockford.
Just after Adam Boqvist was drafted by Chicago he was asked how soon he thought that he would be able to play in the NHL.
His answer…3 years. Remember Boqvist was almost a full year younger than the most of the other drafted players.
Boqvist was not physically ready to play in the NHL. Unfortunately for Boqvist Stan Blowman needed to try to bring some excitement to the floundering Blackhawks.
Sometimes common sense should prevail.
By waiting until next year Reichel would probably be able to put on 10-15 pounds of additional muscle. Instead of coming in this year as an undersized lightweight.
Why would the Red Wings not rush Moritz Seider to the NHL last year? Seider was probably 6’3 and 190 lbs last year so basically not undersized at all. Did it hurt Seiders development by not being rushed to the NHL…”NO”
Players should not be brought up to see if they are NHL ready. Rather bring them up when they are NHL ready.
Big summer for Reichel we must hope he turns into a player especially because unfortunately the system has no real top prospects.
Please leave him down for the full year. His contract is slide eligible. Give him nine games if you must.
Boqvist and Dach were rushed by at least a year each. All do to McDounagh and bowman and the hype to take chatter off a dying star that was the dynasty.
Both are gone now the hawks have a chance to do what’s right for their current prospects at this moment.
Why rush the kid to come in NHL ?
Are we missing just one player to get the Cup ? No
So leave him in Rockford and let him have fun there with less pressure.
@Phillip – I appreciate your post and mostly agree with you. However, I did play at this level for a long time, just not hockey! But, I love hockey and understand the game and how it is similar to my sport. You just know when it’s beneficial for a young player to play at a lower level and gain experience, but when it becomes detrimental to a player’s development then it’s time to move him. The biggest issue that I have with the AHL compared to the NHL is the speed of play and the unnecessary cheap shots by jealous foes when they see an up and coming star. In Reichel’s case, and this is my opinion, but now that he has competed in the professional game and has experienced the nuances different from the European League, I feel his next step is to play with guys who have an impeccable work ethic and can provide guidance on him getting better, mentally, physically, and to become a better hockey player. Unfortunately, and I know this first hand, there are guys in the minors who are just there to collect a paycheck and know that they will never be in the NHL and have all sorts of bad habits on and off the ice. So, there is a fine line with elite talent, yes you want them to gain professional experience, but keeping in mind that I do not want this guy to fall into bad habits or get used to the slower pace of the game.
My two cents worth a penny!
Haven’t posted seen much in awhile. See we traded 92 just one of many not staying for the reload doesn’t matter who when will happen once we get revamped.
Nice to see Reichel doing good stay there and developed properly get some games in later when we have traded every trade line player when we’re way behind 8 seed where last few yrs that played a part. With a solid 5th place pick there’s no keeping players we shouldn’t unless part of next wave. Bowman did good to trade every trade line player last yr. who Evers there do the same.
We’re doing what we need to to reload and get back to top 5 team which requires being top 5 or bottom 5 and we’re 5th. What would suck would to be edm van those teams are suppose to be on the rise and good young teams man do they suck record wise. Same for Ana la so those teams were in the thick of thing for top 5 pick and they have decent records how does that happen. Division is weak.
Talk about weak divison how about the all worldly mon in the all corona Canadian division build for playoffs blueprint for playing a top team like tb yes can’t play if your the 18th seed in league they are right where they belong/have no idea of roster sch other.
Top pair defensemen or top line center is always better then a top 5 pick unless that pick becomes a dynastynplayer like Tazer or Kaner. 19 88 are legendary those top players in edm not so much.
Nobody likes winning more then I do.
Load the young wave to get back. Get a copy of the Cael Sanderson approach. He’s the man.
Question about Dach and being a center.
It has been nentioned he is poor st face-offs so my question is how is it decided a player will be a center vs a wing? Are started playing in my 30s so I don’t know how it works fir kids.
You guys know better what’s best for our top prospects to develope just donot want other teams goons taking cheap shots or any shots because they are trying to play learn and not enough experience to get hammer along boards or high hit.
What Evers best the young wave in 2009 didn’t get boarded high hitter they did the hitting or hit same or more. So get those Tim style players in there.
That’s prop on the difference those guys had a wave of players and some Tim style so they could protect each other 77 Reichel have no one with them so I wait until we do then do what’s better for develop.
Wave not lone wolfs like edm.
Mario, think same. For elc stuff it doesn’t matter at all because we’re not going to be loaded yet even if we are in three yrs in four yrs it wouldn’t matter so I say do what’s best for development that and that keeps the players from still having a head in there helmets. What good our any of our top players in young wave core if they are loony’s.
12 fws have 7 goons that can skate and 5 young wavers protected and no pansy’s where we donot hit back I mean take there frocked heads off if anyone goes even an inch high on these young players that will show other teams to stay in line or we ll take out an important playoff player for that team.
Bring in John Scott and his brothers.
All this talk about bringing Reichel has me thinking about coach King. Reichel should only be brought up if King can play and develop him, and King’s track record for player development in Chicago is not that good. King has been in Rockford since 2016 and took over as head coach when JC was promoted in 18. The Hawks have had some high draft picks working their way through Rockford during that period and for one reason or another most have underachieved while in the Hawks organization. Reichel seems to be doing well in as an Icehog, maybe leave him there until the Hawks organization has some leadership stability and a coach bought into the rebuild. Is King the right coach to develop young players or will we continue enjoy watching Gusy, Carp, and Khaura get ice time.
Another angle on the Reichel situation is to consider what’s best for his development leaving out the financial end of things
He’s already played vs men in Germany and handled it well – he’s already played 20 AHL games and handled it well
Is keeping him in the AHL good for his development? If it’s not and he would develop better in the NHL then screw the ELC slidy business and bring him up
As I said before if he’s not ready you send him back down – no harm done to his development or his contract status – maybe as Ian said you wait until he can’t play 40 games at NHL level to preserve a year of UFA status but that still means he’s up by February
As Scott Powers pointed out Trevor Zegras played 17 AHL games last year then 24 games in the NHL and this year has taken off – I think those 24 NHL games were just what he needed for his development – that’s what we want with Reichel – for him to develop to his potential asap
I don’t think Reichel is smaller than Zegras maybe slightly bigger and Zegras isn’t getting intimidated or crushed by the NHL lumberjacks
The only thing the Hawks should be concerned about with Reichel is if bringing him up now hurts or helps his development. If he is ready to test himself at the NHL level, the team should do it. The short and long term benefits to getting him NHL top six ready outweighs the value of getting the “push” year.
One of the things that should be in the calculus for the Hawks has to be mitigating against the loss of their first round pick. The higher the Hawks are in the standings the less valuable that pick is and the less costly losing it becomes. So, if Reichel is ready to give it a try it at the NHL level (he clearly is) the Hawks should bring him up. The only concern is if doing so would hurt his development, but at this point, I am not sure there is much more for him to learn in Rockford. If he can’t handle the NHL right now, send him back, no harm in that. But if he can help the Hawks get a later pick in the draft, then he should be in the NHL.
Wrap thats what i said too about elc slide, most Gms say burning elc year not a big deal but watching the 40 games towards ufa is more of a concern. Whats best for his development on ice is priority for everyone concerned, nobody protecting their job this time, so no other reason to influence the decision about his development.
Wrap, no comparison between Zegras and Dach……Hawks drafted the wrong player. PERIOD.
As for Reichal, do not bring him up, King will destroy him by playing him on the 4th line….same way they the Hawks organization destroyed other promising forwards….4th line with 4th line minutes and then ask….why can’t you score ?? GO back to Rockford….you suck.
A few questions: He has played 20 games in the AHL and has 20 points, and a bunch came in his last two games. What does that say about ability to sustain success at the NHL level? What is the rule of thumb for what to expect in the NHL, does 20/20 translate to 15? 10? 7?
How often does someone get promoted, play really well for 4-5 games and then go into a big slump?
He’s had time in both concussion & Covid protocols this year and people say he needs to get stronger – if the AHL plays fewer games, doesn’t that mean opportunity to build strength and stamina? If the plan is just 9 games, does it matter which 9 (now vs end of year)?
On a different note, Tanner Kero has been cleared to play….Great News!!!
And Connolly reaching out was super classy!
@SaadYousuf126
Tanner Kero said Brett Connolly reached out to him the night of the injury and followed up a few days later again. Kero said he knows Connolly didn’t intend to injure him in that way and felt Connolly’s concern was genuine and he appreciated that.
Kero is cleared to play.
I am with Beer League,don’t want King skating Reichel 6 minutes a night on the 4th line with no 3rd periods. Seems like King and Colliton have that babying of you g players in common. No Seth Jones tonight . Protocol. Will the Canadian teams ever catchup? 4 games canceled on a Monday night.
Seth Jones Jake McCabe to covid protocol
Lankinen out of protocol
Beaudin to active roster
Wondering if anyone believes that Ken Holland is a smart GM. Asking for a friend.
“Seems like King and Colliton have that babying of young players in common.”
Checks the numbers from Jakub Galvas on Tuesday night…