The Vancouver Canucks are entering this season with the hope of turning things back around. They had a tough 2024-25 campaign, as they missed the playoffs. This was after they finished first in the Pacific Division with a 50-23-9 record and 109 points in 2023-24. Thus, they took a major step in the wrong direction last season.
Yet, the Canucks certainly have the potential to bounce back this season. They had a busy summer, where they most notably re-signed star winger Brock Boeser. They also added forward Evander Kane and defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph to their roster.
However, the Canucks had some departures this offseason as well. They lost Pius Suter to the St. Louis Blues in free agency and also traded Dakota Joshua to the Toronto Maple Leafs. With this, it would be understandable if they looked to add another forward before the season is here. This is especially so with Nils Hoglander out for the next eight to 10 weeks due to injury.
One interesting trade target who could make a lot of sense for the Canucks to target is Chicago Blackhawks forward Lukas Reichel. The 23-year-old forward could use a change of scenery, and the Canucks could be a good landing spot for him.
Because of this, Heavy Sports has a trade proposal that has the Blackhawks moving Reichel to the Canucks in an interesting move.
Canucks Get:
- Lukas Reichel
Blackhawks Get:
- 2027 Third-Round Pick
With this move, the Canucks would be taking a chance on a former first-round pick in Reichel. The Blackhawks, on the other hand, would get a third-round pick for a player who has not worked well in their system.
Canucks Linked to Lukas Reichel
Reichel was one of the most-talked-about trade candidates this offseason, and it has only continued with the regular season almost here. According to The Fourth Period, the Canucks are one of the teams currently interested in Reichel.
“The Vancouver Canucks, Edmonton Oilers and San Jose Sharks are among the teams believed to have interest in Reichel, who was drafted 17th overall by Chicago in the 2020 NHL Draft,” The Fourth Period reported.
With Reichel being a young forward who plays both center and the wing, it makes sense that the Canucks are interested in him. While he has yet to break out at the NHL level, he still has time to do so at 23 years old. Perhaps getting a fresh start on a team like Vancouver could help him hit that next level.
Reichel Could Be Good Fit on Canucks
When looking at the Canucks’ current roster, Reichel could fit nicely there. It is no secret that the Canucks could use more skill, and he could give them just that. If acquired, he certainly could compete for a spot in the Canucks’ top nine. Furthermore, due to his offensive skill, he would also offer Vancouver another interesting option for their power play.
Overall, there would be no harm in the Canucks’ taking a chance on Reichel. The potential for the former first-rounder to become an impactful NHL player is still there.
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This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
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