The Blackhawks announced today that they have placed Jonathan Toews on the injured reserve after suffering a concussion. Lukas Reichel has been called up from the Rockford IceHogs to fill his spot.
Jonathan Toews Placed on IR With a Concussion
We have recalled Lukas Reichel from the @goicehogs @enterprise | #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/rqpJ1ughWT
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) February 18, 2022
Jonathan Toews has had a rough last 2 years of his NHL career. After sitting out last year for a health condition, and struggling to kee the production he had before in his return to professional hockey. Now, he has to sit out once again after suffering a concussion.
Toews has 4 goals and 15 assists for 19 points in 43 games so far, while Reichel is at a point-per-game pace so far in Rockford, having 33 points in 33 games. The German native has spent the last 2 years with the DEL’s Eisbären Berlin, before being selected 17th overall in the 2020 NHL Draft.
Toews has spent his entire career with the Blackhawks, while this is Reichel’s first year in North America, as
What this means for the Blackhawks
For the Blackhawks, this is a no-brainer to call up Reichel. the 19-year-old is the points leader on a 21-16-3 IceHogs team and can make an impact in his first professional season in North America.
For Toews, it seems to be that his luck is getting worse, as he continues to struggle with being healthy enough to compete, and it looks to be that we are getting close to the end of his NHL career. Many NHL fans were expecting him to retire during the 2020-2021 season, whereas mentioned earlier, he didn’t play a game due to a medical condition.
Toews is one of the last on the Blackhawks that was part of the “3 cups in 5 years” dynasty, with Patrick Kane being the other.
The Blackhawks are hoping that Reichel can bring an extra ‘punch’ to the lineup, as they are sitting at 18-25-7, and are not currently in a playoff spot. For now, this is Reichel’s chance to make his impact at the top level, with him sitting at a point-per-game. Although it is only his first season, and the Blackhawks are currently in the middle of a much-needed rebuild, so only time will tell.
Main photo:
Embed from Getty Images
