The Vancouver Canucks recently made roster adjustments following a major trade with the Minnesota Wild. This trade involved bringing in three new players while necessitating the removal of one existing player. The Canucks placed Marco Rossi on injured reserve to create some roster space. Nevertheless, winger Lukas Reichel is set to be placed on waivers, according to reports from Rick Dhaliwal of CHEK and The Athletic and Jeff Paterson of Canucks Army.
Canucks Waive Lukas Reichel: The Details
As of 1 PM CT on Sunday, the Canucks will officially waive Reichel. This decision comes as the team needed to comply with roster limits after their recent trade. Initially acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks in October for a 2027 fourth-round pick, Reichel was thought to be a valuable addition. However, his tenure in Vancouver has not yielded the expected results.
Performance and Statistics
- Reichel started strong with four points in five games.
- He struggled afterward, registering only one assist in 14 games.
- His playing time diminished, appearing just once in the last ten games.
- Throughout his NHL career, he has recorded 22 goals and 37 assists in 188 games.
A first-round pick by the Blackhawks in 2020, Reichel was selected 17th overall. He is in the final year of a two-year contract worth $2.4 million and is set to receive a $1.3 million qualifying offer for arbitration rights next season. Given his current trajectory, a non-tender situation seems likely.
Future Prospects
Despite his struggles, Reichel’s first-round pedigree suggests that teams may still pursue him, believing a change of scenery could reignite his offensive potential. If unclaimed during the waiver period, the Canucks will be able to clear $1.15 million off their salary cap. This move would help the team avoid long-term injured reserve (LTIR) implications and allow them to start accumulating salary cap space again.
