Lukas Reichel’s purpose Saturday demonstrated all of the instruments that after made him the Blackhawks’ most enjoyable prospect.
The 22-year-old German sped down the middle lane on the counterattack, corralled a puck Nick Foligno chipped into the impartial zone, turned on his jets to blow previous Golden Knights defenseman Nicolas Hague and confirmed off his smooth arms and creativity to deke and shoot previous goalie Ilya Samsonov for a highlight-reel tally.
These abilities sadly haven’t translated into as a lot NHL productiveness as beforehand anticipated. That was Reichel’s fourth purpose and thirteenth level in 39 video games this season. He has simply 29 factors in 104 video games over the past two seasons mixed.
However he’s additionally including new abilities and habits into his portfolio. Seconds earlier than that rush, for instance, he backchecked under his purpose line and bumped Knights ahead Brett Howden sufficient to provide Colton Dach time and area to get the puck to Foligno.
And over the previous week particularly, Reichel has been extra engaged, bodily and efficient in puck battles.
“It’s one thing we’ve wished him to do,” interim coach Anders Sorensen stated Friday. “[He’s] far more concerned, [getting] far more into arms and successful these 50/50 [battles] extra. … The previous few video games have been a few of his greatest video games when it comes to the compete issue and the work ethic off the puck.”
Reichel gained three or 4 completely different battles — with assist from Foligno and Dach — on an vital third-period shift to kill clock within the offensive zone with a two-goal lead. He arrange harmful scoring possibilities for each linemates on speedy rushes on different shifts.
“If we are able to use our huge our bodies to attempt to get [Lukas] some area to dart…he’s so harmful,” Foligno stated. “To see him have the boldness to place that one in, I’m actually thrilled for him. His sport has been constructing. He has been [getting] over pucks and battling. When you have got that component plus the ability and velocity he has, you begin to dictate video games.”
Reichel was humbled by his struggles final season. This season has been about rebuilding his confidence in a distinct silo.
He’s coming to just accept he’s not going to be a top-six star within the NHL and perceive he can nonetheless be a stable participant in a middle- or bottom-six role. His velocity stays the essential ingredient on this new method, but it surely must be accompanied by extra accountability, scrappiness and consistency.
One factor that has clicked in his mind this month is that he doesn’t all the time have to have a play or thought drawn up in his head earlier than participating in a state of affairs. He wants to easily get entangled — to hustle for unfastened pucks, hold his ft shifting and activate his stick. Then he can determine the following step within the second.
Even when it doesn’t result in a fairly play, he would possibly no less than have the ability to advance the puck over the blue line — or tie it up lengthy sufficient for a teammate to affix the battle or make a line change. Work ethic makes a distinction in so some ways.
“It’s extra a psychological factor to go in there and attempt to win each battle,” Reichel stated Friday. “Some video games you simply don’t have it, however you’ll be able to no less than have an effect — like [telling yourself], ‘I’m going to win that battle.’ That’s what I need to concentrate on.”
Since Sorensen’s arrival, Reichel ranks fourth on the workforce in five-on-five expected-goals ratio (49.1%).
Each day Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli reported this week the Hawks have acquired calls about his availability, however buying and selling him now — or anytime quickly — could be a mistake.
The Hawks want to start out committing to gamers of their early 20s ultimately, and though Reichel doesn’t appear prone to attain his ceiling, there are different helpful niches he may fill.
