Canucks acquire Lukas Reichel from Blackhawks for 2027 4th-round pick

The Vancouver Canucks acquired forward Lukas Reichel from the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday, sending a 2027 fourth‑round draft pick to Chicago in a move that gives Vancouver added forward depth and gives Reichel a fresh opportunity after five seasons with the Blackhawks organization. The 23‑year‑old German played in five of Chicago’s first eight games this season and had four points, including a two‑goal, three‑point outing against St. Louis on Oct. 15 and an assist in his final game for Chicago against Tampa Bay.

Reichel was the 17th overall pick in the 2020 draft and has 58 points, including 22 goals, in 174 NHL games. He also has 116 points in 121 games with Chicago’s AHL affiliate in Rockford. This season his average ice time with the Blackhawks had dipped to about 9 minutes 52 seconds, down from 11:55 last season and well below a career high of 16:22 in 2022‑23.

Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin said the club values Reichel’s speed and versatility and plans to explore using him at center. "You can see that speed in his game," Allvin said. "We definitely believe that he has the ability to play center here, and we’ll definitely give it a try here." Allvin added that he...