The Chicago Blackhawks are parting ways with a 23-year-old former first round pick via trade

The Chicago Blackhawks invested time and energy into making sure former 1st-round pick Lukas Reichel could find himself back in the NHL lineup.

With multiple conditioning stints in the AHL, he couldn't find the confidence needed to stay relevant in the world's best hockey league. Even with mentor Pat Maroon in the Windy City, he'd find himself on the fringes of the lineup playing fourth-line minutes, in a bottom-six role.

And now it appears, he's on the trade block according to The Fourth Period's David Pagnotta, who reports that the team is fielding calls on the former 1st-round pick.

This season in 70 games, he'd only tally 22 points (8-14) and would fall short of the year he scored 15 points (7-8) in 25 games. His draft position has given us all the expectation he's failed to live up to.

Despite this, he's been given multiple chances to succeed and redeem himself but now looks like he could be traded by the Blackhawks in the near future.

With his skills and speed, it'd seem he was poised for a breakout in the NHL, but he has failed to grab the brass ring and produce like someone who was selected 17th overall should.

Reichel doesn't have the size or strength to play a physical game and has been subject to being pushed off the puck and outmuscled on the ice. An issue he'll have to address if he's planning on sticking around in the NHL long-term.

Despite the numerous issues these recent years, it appears the team may be fielding offers, but might not move Reichel, as they could be dedicated to finding a way to make it work with the former 17th overall pick.

It may simply be a case of a lack of good value for a top-pick in the 2020 NHL Draft for now, but the German forward may have another chance to stay put in Chicago.

Reichel has played 169 games in the NHL, scoring only 54 points (20-34) all with the Blackhawks.