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If the Canadiens are looking to shore up their wing position with the sixteenth pick in the draft, then Lukas Reichel is just the type of player they should target. Although he is a junior-aged player, he completed in the top German league against men last season and fared very well. His skating and hockey sense are both excellent and his versatility helps make him a safe choice.

Bio

LW
Shoots: L
DOB: May 17 2002
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 172 lbs

Rankings

CSB (Europe): 11
Elite Prospects: 50
ISS: 31
McKeen’s Hockey: 38
Hockey Prospectus: 15
Future Considerations: 33
The Hockey News: 40
Recrutes: 15
TSN (Button): 33
TSN (McKenzie): 20
The Athletic (Pronman): 21

Statistics

Scouting Report

Reichel is a great skater in every facet of the definition of skating. His style is practically perfect with his stride, speed, acceleration and agility. Lukas’ compete level is very high, which combined with his skating helps make him a tireless forechecker and back checker. Forcing turnovers at a regular rate is his forte. His skating skills allow him to lead the rush and his puck handling skills are also quite good, allowing him to carry the puck well. His shot is very good and his linemates usually look for him as the trigger man in the offensive zone. He’s very willing to go to the net for a scoring opportunity and is willing to shoot from anywhere.

While in the German league, he rotated between the second and third lines depending on the opposition. For the first few months of the season, he was paired with former NHL players Maxim Lapierre and James Sheppard and excelled offensively scoring 15 points in his first 23 games. He wasn’t applied as a penalty killer very often, but he has all the tools to become a very successful one. As an NHL prospect, many scouts agree he will be a safe pick since his talent and effort will get him to that level. He tied fellow German draft-eligible player and linemate Tim Stutzle for second in team scoring, one point behind J-J Peterka at the World Junior Championship last winter. Despite these offensive tools, scouts’ projections for Reichel vary between a top six or bottom six as his ceiling at the pro level. Nearly everyone agrees he will be a pro player.

Timeline

Like many other teenage hockey players, Reichel needs time to develop more physically before being fully ready for the NHL. He has shown good signs of adapting to playing against men in the German league but has also been overmatched at times against older opponents. As a seventeen-year-old player, that’s still an impressive feat. I could see Lukas staying for one or two more seasons in Europe to continue his hockey and physical development, then perhaps a stint in the AHL after he crosses the pond to get him ready. As such, I see Reichel lacing up in the NHL sometime during the 2022-23 season.