Hawks top draft pick Reichel has sights on opening night roster

Like many young athletes, Blackhawks forward Lukas Reichel knows disciplinary action is sometimes necessary.

Ice time in the pros is guaranteed to no one - and especially an 18-year-old.

Reichel found that out the hard way during his first season in Germany's top league when he was benched for a long period of time in a game against Nuremberg.

"I played not so good the first shift," said Reichel, who was taken 17th overall in the 2020 NHL draft and signed a three-year, entry-level deal with the Hawks Wednesday. "Then the coach said what I'm doing (wrong) and he just wants the best for me. ... It's hockey. Sometimes you have bad games."

Exactly. And your true colors come out by how you respond to the discipline.

Some guys pout, go into a shell and disappear for weeks.

Others pick up their game and become better for it.

That night, Reichel ended up scoring the winning goal in the shootout.

"Then after that, everything was fine," the 19-year-old said in a conference call with reporters Friday.

Reichel ended up scoring 12 goals as a rookie and added 10 more this season. He then helped Eisbaren Berlin capture the 2021 championship with 2 goals and 3 assists in nine postseason games.

Reichel played quite a bit of center for Berlin, which bodes well for the Hawks if he can translate his game to the NHL level quickly. By midseason he could be Jeremy Colliton's third-line center behind Jonathan Toews and Kirby Dach.

"Blackhawks said it's good to have more positions," Reichel said. "I can play center and on the wing. So that's good for the coaches. I (also) learned more how to play in the D-zone and that helped me really a lot the last season."

Reichel, who was part of Team Germany's fourth-place finish in the World Championships, has gained plenty of weight over the last 12 to 18 months - something he knows is necessary if he hopes to excel at the highest level. Reichel has meetings with Hawks fitness coach Paul Goodman next week, then plans to go on vacation for a week or two.

After that, he'll get back to work and eventually make his way to the U.S. to see if his NHL career can begin as early as opening night.

"I think I played a good season with Eisbaren and the national team, too," Reichel said. "So, yeah, I'm really looking forward (to coming over) and I will give my best in training camp next season and this summer too. Then we will see what happens."