The most polarizing player on the 2023-24 Blackhawks is about to find himself at the center of even more uncertainty.
At the start of this past season, forward Lukas Reichel faced massive expectations. Looking to capitalize on a strong finish to the previous campaign while being given more room on the ice, the 21-year-old appeared primed for an offensive outburst this year.
It didn’t take long for it to become clear that that wouldn’t be the case. Reichel didn’t log a point until the 10th game of the season and picked up 10 goals and 32 points while posting a -45 plus-minus on the year. He was even sent to the AHL-affiliate Rockford IceHogs in February and March to attempt to rediscover his offensive production, which did yield some results. Still, it wasn’t the season he or the Blackhawks were looking for.
Reichel’s tough season couldn’t have come at a worse time for either party, as he’s set to hit restricted free agency this summer. That puts Chicago in a tricky spot – while they don’t want to give up on one of their premier youngsters, he hasn’t done much to instill confidence in the franchise. As the time to make a decision continues to draw nearer, the Blackhawks have three main options this summer regarding Reichel.
Qualifying Offer/Prove-It Deal
The first option is perhaps the most likely – extend a qualifying offer. Such a one-year deal would be worth $874,000 for the 2024-25 season. It isn’t particularly likely Reichel would accept the qualifying offer, as while he’s coming off a lackluster season, he’s still the 17th-overall pick that the Blackhawks have invested plenty in.
Even if Reichel doesn’t accept a qualifying offer, Chicago can still get him to return at a cheap price. It isn’t likely any other teams around the league would send him an offer sheet, so the Blackhawks may not have too many competitors when they try to bring Reichel back.
A qualifying offer or cheap, one-year deal would allow the Blackhawks to analyze whether Reichel can prove he belongs at the NHL level before offering him a better deal next summer or giving up on him altogether.
Long-Term Deal
Depending on how confident Chicago currently is in Reichel, though, signing him to a longer deal now may be their preferred option. The young forward will never come at a cheaper cost than he will this summer. If the Blackhawks trust that Reichel will turn into the star scorer they drafted him to be, they may decide to sign him for a longer term than just a one-year deal.
No matter how much trust the Blackhawks have in their young forward, he’s not expecting an eight-year mega-deal. Scott Powers of the Athletic pointed out at the start of the year that Reichel could get a deal similar to that of Brandon Hagel’s second contract with Chicago. Neither of the two players were/are eligible for arbitration (Reichel falls one year short), but Hagel was paid $1.5 million annually for three years. Such a contract would be a win-win for the Blackhawks – if Reichel reaches his potential, his deal would be an absolute steal, but if he doesn’t, his contract would be hardly noticeable as the team attempts to navigate the salary cap.
Trade Bait
A final option for Chicago, as unideal as it may seem, is to use Reichel as trade bait. It’s no secret the Blackhawks are looking to continue to mix things up, and that includes bringing in fresh, outside faces. To do so, Reichel may be a prime candidate to be shipped off. This feels like the worst-case scenario for Chicago as Reichel’s value is at an all-time low while still possessing tremendous upside, but the Blackhawks will be exhausting every option before they make a decision on Reichel’s future in Chicago.
