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Chris Drury and the New York Rangers encouraged to acquire former first-round pick for free


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Joshua Deeds
December 13, 2025  (2:03 PM)
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Lukas Reichel
Photo credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images

The Vancouver Canucks could place forward Lukas Reichel on waivers. If this is the eventual outcome after shopping him for a trade, the New York Rangers could claim him on waivers and bring fresh blood into the lineup.

Talent is hard to come by in the NHL. Former 1st-round picks are difficult to come by, especially if they turn out to be worth the price of the capital spent to acquire them.
For the New York Rangers, they could find a way to end the Conor Sheary experiment on the top-six and bring in a reclamation project.
That project could end up being forward Lukas Reichel who was traded to the Vancouver Canucks earlier this season for a late-round pick.
Reichel was selected 17th overall in the 2020 by the Chicago Blackhawks.
Now, with the Vancouver Canucks beginning what looks to be a rebuild (though they never stated it), the team could waive the former 1st-round pick, and the Rangers could claim him off waivers for free.
In 14 games with the Canucks this season, Reichel has scored 1 point (1 A).

Is it time for the New York Rangers to end the experiment with forward Conor Sheary?

Despite the thought that forward Conor Sheary could've been a great contributor to the Rangers' success this season, he's failed to provide any meaningful depth this season.
In 29 games with the Rangers, he's scored 7 points (1-6), while playing up and down the lineup.
The reunion between himself and Coach Mike Sullivan looked to have been a promising prospect for the Blueshirts, but it's crashed and burned. Placing him on the same line as Vinnie Trocheck and JT Miller doesn't have us excited.
In the last 10 games, he's scored 2 points (1-1), a sign that he may not be able to get going offensively. While he's broken through his 27 game scoreless drought, it's not good enough.
Either way, Lukas Reichel could end up being a free option and could be sent down to Hartford on waivers if it doesn't work out.
POLL
DECEMBRE 13   |   112 ANSWERS
Chris Drury and the New York Rangers encouraged to acquire former first-round pick for free

Should the New York Rangers acquire forward Lukas Reichel of the Vancouver Canucks for free if he's placed on waivers?

Yes7768.8 %
No3531.3 %
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