It didn’t take the Vancouver Canucks very long to look externally in hopes of rounding out their centre-ice position.
The Canucks announced on Friday afternoon that they have acquired forward Lukas Reichel from the Chicago Blackhawks. In exchange, they’ve moved a fourth-round pick in the 2027 draft to the Blackhawks.
General Manager Patrik Allvin announced today that the #Canucks have acquired forward Lukas Reichel from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2027 NHL Entry Draft. pic.twitter.com/PeZEU8YOKt
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) October 24, 2025
āLukas is an exciting young player and someone we feel can help improve our forward group,ā said GM Patrik Allvin. āHe is a talented playmaker who can create scoring opportunities with his offensive ability. We like the way he moves on the ice and his overall work ethic, and feel our coaching staff can help him become a better and more consistent hockey player.ā
Reichel has been the subject of trade rumours throughout the summer, and the Canucks were often listed as a potential destination. He is off to a strong start this season, recording two goals and four points through five games.
The 23-year-old, who was taken 17th overall by the Blackhawks in the 2020 draft, has yet to fully find his footing at the NHL level. He’s suited up for 174-career games to date, scoring 22 goals and 58 points.
Though Reichel has primarily played on the left wing for the Blackhawks early on this season, he has experience playing down the middle at the NHL level. He took 356 faceoffs during the 2024-25 season, but struggled rather immensely, winning just 39.9 per cent of them.
Despite his struggles in the dot, the fact that he can play centre is likely a large part of the reason why the Canucks traded for him. Centre-ice depth was a significant concern for the Canucks entering the 2025-26 season, and their need for more players down the middle has only since increased following an injury sustained to Filip Chytil last weekend versus the Washington Capitals.
Given the cheap cost to acquire him, adding Reichel makes plenty of sense for the Canucks. They will now have the remainder of the season to evaluate him and get a better idea as to whether or not he fits into their long-term future. The left-shot forward is in the final year of a contract that carries a $1.2 million cap hit, after which he will become an RFA.
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