The NHL Trade Deadline is one week away and the rumors of who might get moved are heating up more and more as the days go by.
The Chicago Blackhawks have a couple of the league’s top targets in Seth Jones and Ryan Donato, but could there be another move involving one of their young forwards?
As of late, it seems Lukas Reichel is losing his spot in the lineup once again.
He had shown more promise this season than he did last year but seems to be on a very short leash with the coaching staff. This might be the writing on the wall for Reichel’s time in Chicago as it looks like a change of scenery might be what is best for him.
One team who look to be sellers at this trade deadline is the Buffalo Sabres, and they have a young player who might also benefit from a trade, similar to Reichel.
Jack Quinn, the eighth-overall pick in the 2020 NHL draft, is a player who has yet to live up to his potential and could find himself on the block for Buffalo.
With 22 points in 49 games, Quinn’s numbers aren’t much better than Reichel’s (16 points in 50 games).
However, he has shown his scoring ability in the NHL before. Last season, his 19 points in 27 games was his best point production yet, though his season was shortened due to an Achilles injury.
Quinn brings more of a natural goal scoring ability to his game than Reichel does, which would allow him to make himself an important member of a Blackhawks team that lacks goal scorers.
It does seem as Lukas Reichel’s time in Chicago may be coming to an end. Though, a move to Buffalo could be a boost to Reichel’s morale as his good friend and fellow countryman, JJ Peterka, has become a breakout performer and bright spot on a Sabres roster that has failed to meet expectations.
Due to the potential that Quinn had shown in previous seasons, a one-for-one trade could be accomplished but might need more value on the Blackhawks’ end.
It is not reasonable to believe Reichel and a mid/late-round pick could get the job done for this swap of former top prospects. A move like this may not move the needle for the Blackhawks, but gives them a young player with goal scoring ability that is very low risk.
Not every move at the trade deadline is a blockbuster trade that makes all the headlines, but a trade like this could make sense for both teams as it gives two talented young players a new opportunity to prove themselves as NHL regulars.
