Adam Lowry Following Elimination Kristian Reichel - a dual citizen of Czechia and Germany - has opted to leave North American hockey for that of the Deutsche Elite League, signing a three-year deal with Adler Mannheim this past week. “We are delighted that Kristian is joining our club," Adler head coach and GM Dallas Eakins said of Reichel. "He’s a team-serving player who works hard in every game. Kristian can play in all situations and is another right-winger who can be used both in the centre position and on the wing. The experience he has gained in Europe and North America will be good for us." Reichel, a 25-year-old, undrafted prospect of the Winnipeg Jets, spent the past six seasons with the Manitoba Moose, where he earned playing time with the Jets in two of the past three seasons. The son of Robert Reichel - a longtime start with the Toronto Maple Leafs - Reichel found a home in Manitoba, where he amassed 57 goals and 118 points in 284 regular season games in the AHL. “I’m really looking forward to this new opportunity," Reichel shared. "It will definitely be an adjustment to come back to Europe, but I can’t wait to play in front of the great Mannheim fans. I want to build on last season in Canada and give everything for the team to be successful." He scored 23 times and finished with 42 points in 70 games, in what was a breakout season of sorts last year. Riding the high into the 2024 offseason, Reichel opted to bring his talents back to Europe, where he will play with Adler for three seasons. If Adler sounds familiar, it is because that is the club that fellow Moose star, Leon Gawanke, signed with after opting to leave North America, himself. Reichel leaves Canada and the NHL with 15 games of big league experience, to which he recorded a goal and three points.
