The Vancouver Canucks and Chicago Blackhawks completed another trade, as Vancouver acquired forward Lukas Reichel from Chicago in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft.
Canucks Land Lukas Reichel in Trade with Blackhawks
Reichel, 23, has spent his entire career to this point with the Blackhawks, appearing in parts of five NHL seasons. So far this year, he’s posted two goals and two assists for four points in five games, averaging 9:52 of ice time per night — a noticeable dip from his usual average of over 13:21 per game.
A native of Nurnberg, Germany, Reichel has tallied 22 goals and 36 assists for 58 points in 174 career NHL games. Drafted 17th overall by Chicago in the 2020 NHL Draft, his best offensive campaign came when he recorded eight goals and 14 assists for 22 points in 70 games.
Reichel has also represented Germany at several international levels. He played in the 2020 IIHF World Juniors and has been part of the senior national team at the 2021, 2022, 2024, and 2025 World Championships. He’s already been selected to represent Germany at the upcoming 2026 Olympics.
What the Move Means
Reichel had been the subject of trade speculation for months, and now the Blackhawks have finally, as one report put it, “pulled the trigger on a deal.”
Vancouver has been in need of offensive depth, and Reichel offers an interesting blend of youth and potential. While he has yet to reach double digits in goals, “there’s hope that he’ll finally increase those numbers with increased ice time.”
The Canucks head into Saturday’s game against the Montreal Canadiens averaging just 2.63 goals per contest — tied for 25th in the NHL. Reichel’s four points already place him tied for third in scoring on the team this season. He’s been “itching for more ice time,” and now, in Vancouver, he’s set to get exactly that.