Vancouver Canucks open to trading Reichel less than a month after acquiring him
So much for Chicago Blackhawks fans being upset about losing Lukas Reichel.
It hasn’t even been one month since the Vancouver Canucks acquired Reichel from Chicago in exchange for a 2027 fourth-round pick on Oct. 25.
Now, a report from CHEK’s Rick Dhaliwal suggests that the Canucks may already be trying to move him.
Dhaliwal said this morning on Sportsnet 650’s Halford and Brough that Reichel is available via trade.
“I heard last night that you can get Reichel out of Vancouver,” Dhaliwal said. “I think they’re okay with trying to move him is what I was told last night.”
The Canucks willingness to trade Reichel shouldn’t come as a surprise.
The 23-year-old entered the Vancouver lineup with a golden opportunity. During his first eight games with the Canucks, he was playing big minutes as their second-line centre. In those games, only Evander Kane, Elias Pettersson and Conor Garland averaged more even-strength ice time per game than Reichel.
While he had some chances to score during his first few games, he was unable to get on the scoresheet. As the games progressed, his inability to win face-offs and his lackadaisical defensive play were glaring issues.
During the Canucks last five games, Reichel’s ice time has plummeted, and he was bumped out of a centre ice position after David Kämpf joined the team.
The German forward was then a healthy scratch last night for the Canucks during their loss at home against the Dallas Stars.
He’s been surpassed in the lineup by not just Kämpf, but veteran Mackenzie MacEachern as well. MacEachern hadn’t played in the NHL since December 2023 before suiting up for the Canucks this season. He has a goal and four points in seven games this season.
The Canucks have also decided to give other depth players, like Max Sasson and Linus Karlsson, opportunities ahead of Reichel as well.
Sasson has four goals for the Canucks this season, second on the team among centres. Linus Karlsson is up to three goals and seven points in his 19 games.
Reichel, on the other hand, has just one assist in 13 games. The Canucks have also bled scoring chances at a dizzying rate with him on the ice as well.
At this point, the Canucks would probably be lucky to get anything in return for Reichel. With players like Teddy Blueger and Jonathan Lekkerimäki inching closer to returns from injury, there’s a good chance that Reichel ends up on waivers if the Canucks can’t find a trade partner.