Blackhawks' Lukas Reichel to Join Rockford IceHogs for Calder Cup Playoffs

This decision figures to be in the best interest of the Blackhawks and the player as Reichel will get a chance to bolster his confidence while meshing with the organization's other youngsters in a competitive atmosphere.

There's no sugarcoating it — the 2023-24 campaign has been an objectively rough showing for Reichel. Entering the final day of the season, the former No. 17 overall draft pick has 15 points (four goals, 11 assists) in 64 NHL games.

While he's shown flashes of improvement since returning from a stint with the IceHogs, during which he had seven points (one goal, six assists) in nine AHL games, his production is a far cry from preseason expectations.

Back in September, Reichel received a glowing endorsement from general manager Kyle Davidson, who announced the 21-year-old would begin the season as a center. However, an underwhelming early showing resulted in Reichel moving back to wing and eventually down the lineup.

While development isn't linear, it's safe to say the Blackhawks expected Reichel to take a step forward in his third taste of NHL action. Instead, the pending restricted free agent battled confidence issues and struggled to assert himself on a talent-thin roster, leading to major questions about his future outlook.

Sending Reichel to Rockford for the Calder Cup Playoffs won't magically flip a switch in his development, but it will give him a chance to finish the season on a high note while the Blackhawks can monitor him more closely than if he were overseas for the IIHF World Championship.