Blackhawks forward reveals he thought he was traded to Edmonton Oilers this offseason
Photo credit: USA Today Sports
Chicago Blackhawks forward Lukas Reichel has been in trade rumours this offseason, and at one point, he briefly thought he was headed to the Edmonton Oilers.
The Oilers have been linked to trading for Reichel this offseason to add another young forward into their mix, and one who had a history with GM Stan Bowman. A deal hasn't happened yet, but the rumours reached Reichel.
Lukas Reichel reveals he thought he was traded to Edmonton Oilers this offseason
In a new interview, Reichel opened up about the difficulties of last season, and being confronted about trade rumours involving the Oilers. Friends at BlackhawksInsider put together the story, too.
"I heard from guys in Germany that I didn't know knew hockey. They came up to me and said, 'You're going to go to Edmonton.' I can't do anything about it."
"Now I'm like, 'Oh, my God, I just want to get started.' It makes it even more motivating for me because you have one year and you just put everything into it. That's why you try stuff with the training."
"[Last season] was up and down. If you have a down game, you've got to learn from it. Then you feel better if it happens again. You know what to do.»
- Lukas Reichel
"Now I'm like, 'Oh, my God, I just want to get started.' It makes it even more motivating for me because you have one year and you just put everything into it. That's why you try stuff with the training."
"[Last season] was up and down. If you have a down game, you've got to learn from it. Then you feel better if it happens again. You know what to do.»
- Lukas Reichel
Now 23 years old, Reichel is still struggling to cement his role with the Blackhawks at the NHL level.
Selected 17th overall in the 2020 Draft, the German left winger is a skilled player whose production hasn't translated in the NHL yet. In 169 career games across 4 seasons, Reichel has only 20 goals and 54 points.
The Edmonton Oilers may not have a fit for an underperforming skill player like Reichel, but there still could be an addition before training camp.
Oilers could still add a forward to NHL roster in training camp
The Oilers could use some muscle down in their lineup, and some PTO options still exist on the market - including Klim Kostin who has expressed a desire to return to Edmonton.
Stan Bowman may have believed in Reichel to draft him back in 2020, but his player profile is less attractive in 2025. The Oilers may have been right to pass on a trade for him now.
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