Canucks place Lukas Reichel on waivers

If Reichel clears waivers on Sunday, he would become eligible to be assigned to the Canucks’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Abbotsford Canucks. If that came to be, it would be the first time since the 2023-24 season that he has found himself in the minors.

Reichel’s pro career has been tumultuous at times. The German winger was originally taken 17th overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2020 NHL Draft. Despite showing glimpses of his potential, including posting excellent numbers in the AHL, Reichel was unable to find stable ground in Chicago.

It led the 23-year-old to become open to the idea of a change in scenery. Not long after scoring three points against the St. Louis Blues on Oct. 15, just his second game of the season, Reichel was traded to the Canucks for a fourth-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft. There, he has seen an elevation in playing time, but it hasn’t led to any excessive amount of production. Despite averaging over 13 minutes of ice time across 14 games, he has posted just one assist, which came back on Nov. 8 in a win over the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Reichel has a plus/minus of -5 since coming over to Vancouver, and just five points in 19 games this season.

Reichel’s placement on waivers comes less than a day after the Canucks were involved in a blockbuster deal, trading captain Quinn Hughes to the Minnesota Wild. In return, Vancouver received forwards Marco Rossi and Liam Ohgren, defenseman Zeev Buium, and the Wild’s 2026 first-round pick. With the new additions to the roster, the Canucks clearly had to make space, with Reichel being the odd man out.

In 188 NHL games, Reichel has scored 22 goals and 37 assists for 59 points. In 121 regular-season games in the AHL, he has notched 42 goals and 74 assists for 116 points, with another seven points in 14 Calder Cup Playoff affairs.