The Chicago Blackhawks just finished up the Tom Kurver’s Prospect Showcase with the Minnesota Wild on Sunday. It was a two-game series that each organization’s prospects played in that also allowed them to showcase a few practices.
It was an incredible event that allowed some folks to see a few of the team’s top prospects as they try to develop their game and become NHL players. There were a few players that stood out above the rest.
On Sunday, the Blackhawks defeated the Wild by a final score of 5-0. Mitchell Weeks had a 37-save shutout which was really impressive but there was another player that had an even more noticeable game and that is Lukas Reichel.
Reichel had four assists in the contest and was the main reason that the Hawks had great offensive output. If he can continue making players around him better as the competition level increases, he will be a great player in this league.
The Chicago Blackhawks have a lot to look forward to with Lukas Reichel.
Reichel was the 17th overall pick by Chicago during the 2020 NHL Draft and has been one of the team’s top prospects ever since. He made his NHL debut in 2021-22 and played in 11 games. In those 11 games, he had one assist.
Although he only had one point, he was someone who didn’t look overmatched. At 19 years old (at the time), he had moments where he looked like a rookie but he didn’t look like he didn’t belong by any means. He also showed that he could play on any line at this point.
Reichel had four assists in this prospect game which suggests that he is ahead of his peers for the most part which is outstanding to see. As mentioned before, making people around him better is one of the keys to his game and that was on display here.
After seeing him play very well here against these Minnesota Wild prospects, he is off to a good start. Now, he is going to head to training camp where he will have a chance to make the NHL team.
They already burned the first year of his contract by allowing him to play more than nine games last year so playing this year should be no problem for him as long as he deserves it.
Of all the things to take away from this showcase, Reichel’s play is the most exciting. This year will be a solid development year for him. The Hawks are looking to be adding more young players to join him as a core piece which will really help them rebuild properly.
