The speedy, but slight Reichel showed signed of getting his game together late in the NHL season after a demotion to Chicago's farm team in February.

The Blackhawks' season is over, but Lukas Reichel isn't done yet. Chicago's first-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft is headed to Rockford to skate in the AHL's Calder Cup playoffs.

The 21-year-old forward needs to keep working to get his game together after a largely disastrous season. The nephew of former NHLer Robert Reichel — who scored 630 points in 830 games — the speedy, skilled Lukas Reichel must to learn to use his talent more assertively and consistently.

It's a pivotal time for the 6-foot, 170-pound native of Nürnberg, Germany's "Lebkuchen" or gingerbread capital.

"I'll focus now on the playoffs and they said I'll go the AHL," Reichel said. "For me, I think it's good to play playoff games, play hard. We'll see how it goes.

"I hope not, but if we lose in the first two rounds, I can still go to the World Championships, but I don't want to think about that. I think we've got a really good team to win the Calder." See video.

Big Hopes, No Results in 2023-24

At the start of the 2023-24 season, Reichel was slotted as the No. 2 center in the Blackhawks lineup, behind Connor Bedard.

It made sense. Reichel was considered Chicago's top forward prospect in THN's Future Watch before the Blackhawks took Bedard with the No. 1 selection in 2023.

Reichel had progressed in 2022-23 with Rockford and then in 23 games with Chicago, notching seven goals and eight assists. The slightly-built forward seemed ready for the NHL, especially with Bedard deflecting the limelight and pressure.

But Reichel fizzled for the most part this year, posting just five goals and 11 assist in 65 games despite ample opportunity. 

There were flashes, but nothing consistent. Sometimes Reichel seemed, well, just plain out of it.

He was sent back to Rockford for a month, starting in mid-February. Reichel looked more focused in 15 games after his return on March 17.

Reichel's best play of the season came in the Blackhawks' season finale at Los Angeles, a 5-4 overtime loss to the Kings on Thursday. He scooped up the puck in the Chicago zone, bolted down the ice between two defenders and beat Cam Talbot with a lightning-fast forehand/backhand move.

That's what the Blackhawks were waiting for all season. Now he'll get a chance to keep getting back on track.

"He said he wants to go and play in Rockford and win," Blackhawks coach Luke Richardson said. "That's a great attitude for him and our organization." See video.

Other top Blackhawks prospects skating for the IceHogs include defenseman Wyatt Kaiser, Ethan Del Mastro and Nolan Allan, and goalie Drew Commesso.