The Vancouver Canucks have traded for forward Lukas Reichel from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft. The 23-year-old German forward brings speed and skill to a Canucks team dealing with multiple forward injuries. Reichel has recorded four points in five games this season.
The Chicago Blackhawks traded 23-year-old forward Lukas Reichel to the Vancouver Canucks on October 24, 2025, receiving a fourth-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft in return. The pick originally belonged to Chicago and was acquired by Vancouver on June 26, 2024.
Reichel, selected 17th overall by Chicago in the 2020 NHL Draft, has appeared in 174 career NHL games, all with the Blackhawks, tallying 58 points (22 goals, 36 assists) and 32 penalty minutes. In the AHL with the Rockford IceHogs, he posted 116 points (42 goals, 74 assists) in 121 regular-season games and seven points (five goals, two assists) in 14 playoff contests. He was named to the 2023 AHL All-Star Game. This season, Reichel has five games with four points (two goals, two assists), a +1 rating, and two penalty minutes, tying for sixth in team scoring and fourth in goals. Last season, he achieved career highs of eight goals, 14 assists, and 22 points in 70 games, averaging 11:55 of ice time. Notably, he had three points (two goals, one assist) in an 8-3 win against the St. Louis Blues on October 15.
Vancouver General Manager Patrik Allvin highlighted Reichel's potential, stating, "Lukas is a player we've tracked for a long time, and his skill set is undeniable. He's a young player with high hockey IQ and speed who just needs the right opportunity to find his confidence and develop into a consistent NHL player. We believe our environment here in Vancouver will give him that opportunity to thrive." Allvin added, "We definitely believe that he has the ability to [play center] here and we’ll definitely give it a try here... What intrigues us is the speed coming through the neutral zone and his skill level there."
The trade addresses Vancouver's injury challenges, with forwards Teddy Blueger (undisclosed, about two weeks), Filip Chytil (concussion protocol, making progress), Jonathan Lekkerimäki (undisclosed, two to three weeks), and Nils Höglander (lower-body surgery, eight to 10 weeks) sidelined. Reichel, a left winger capable of playing center, could slot into the top nine or try center amid these absences. From Nürnberg, Germany, he has represented his country internationally, including the 2020 World Junior Championships and multiple World Championships, and is on Germany's preliminary roster for the 2026 Olympics.