Lukas Reichel reveals honest thoughts on Frank Nazar's contract extension

Frank Nazar's contract extension has been the talk of the town in Chicago since the announcement was made yesterday. After comments from GM Kyle Davidson and teammate Connor Bedard, another young Hawk opened up on the deal, giving fans an entertaining reaction.

Insider David Pagnotta shared a clip on X of his conversation with Reichel ahead of the 2025-26 season. The 23-year-old winger admitted he was happy for his teammate but couldn't resist joking about it.

According to Pagnotta, Reichel laughed and said he'd be asking Nazar to cover his dinners on road trips now that he's signed a massive extension.

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The comment shows the good atmosphere building in Chicago's locker room, but it also highlights the different situations both players are in.

Reichel, the Hawks' 17th overall in 2020, is entering the final season of his $1.2 million AAV deal. Unlike Nazar, his future in Chicago is far from certain.

Through 169 career games, Reichel has registered 54 points and hasn't quite lived up to expectations. Last season, he scored only eight goals, while Nazar had 12 in only 53 games during his rookie year. Those numbers show why Nazar was the one to earn a long-term contract from the Hawks, while Reichel enters a crucial season.

Still, the door isn't closed. With a strong training camp and improved consistency, Reichel could work his way back into the Blackhawks' long-term plans. He has shown flashes of creativity and offensive instincts, but he'll need to put it together over a full season to earn a bigger role.

Fans are also eager to see him in action for Team Germany at the Olympic Games.

While Nazar's deal has set a high bar, Reichel has an opportunity in 2025-26 to prove he can still be a key part of Chicago's future.