Blackhawks reassign 2020 first-round pick Lukas Reichel

It seems clear that Lukas Reichel is ready to make an impact at the NHL level, which is why the Chicago Blackhawks have sent him back to the minor leagues Friday. As they prepare for Patrick Kane’s return, the team loaned Reichel back to the Rockford IceHogs, clearing a roster spot for the weekend.

Of the four games the 20-year-old forward has played this season, the Blackhawks have won three of them, including one over the Calgary Flames in which he was the second star with three points. Their win Thursday night actually pulled them ahead of the Columbus Blue Jackets in the standings, the opposite of what they are looking to accomplish this year.

There’s an argument to be made that Reichel can benefit from more time in the minor leagues, playing with a Rockford team that should be competitive all year, but he has been a dominant player since the moment he entered that league, scoring at a rate better than a point-per-game through nearly 100 appearances.

There will be plenty of time to see Reichel in Chicago down the road, but for now, it looks like he’ll be limited to minor league action for the next while. After the trade deadline, when the team flips several pending free agents, perhaps he’ll get a more extended chance.