CHICAGO – Lukas Reichel is ready to make his season debut for the Chicago Blackhawks after being a healthy substitute in the team's first four games.

Reichel is expected to center Chicago's fourth line along with veteran forwards Pat Maroon and Craig Smith in the team's home opener against San Jose on Thursday night. Coach Luke Richardson said he thought the game with the Sharks was a good time to use Reichel.

“It's a night where this team moves on the ice. They skate and work hard, and that's going to benefit him because he's a skater,” Richardson said, “and we need to see him.” You know, there's a lot of confidence tonight, and when he gets it, he just has to make a play or get him into an area where his teammate or himself can make a play from it.”

Chicago also placed Alec Martinez on injured reserve before the game against San Jose. Fellow defenseman Isaak Phillips was recalled from Rockford of the AHL.

The 37-year-old Martinez, who skated in each of the team's first four games, has a right groin injury. He agreed to a one-year, $4 million contract with the Blackhawks in free agency.

Richardson had no news on goalkeeper Laurent Brossoit and defender Artyom Levshunov. Brossoit underwent meniscus surgery on his right knee on August 27th. Levshunov, the No. 2 overall pick in this year's NHL draft, is recovering from a right foot injury.

“Both are simply not ready to join the team in practice, but have been on the ice,” Richardson said, “and will be back on the ice after a day or two off. I think they did pretty well hard, and that's all I know there.

The 22-year-old Reichel was a first-round pick in the 2020 Entry Draft but has struggled with inconsistency since his NHL debut nearly three years ago.

When he scored four goals and four assists in his final eight games for Chicago in the 2022-23 season, it looked like he had turned things around. Last year he played a career-best 65 games, but only managed five goals and 11 assists.

Reichel said it was difficult staying out early this season.

“You know you want to play every game, but what I learned last year is that you have to stay positive,” he said. “Everyone knows I want to go out there and compete and play with the guys, but all you can do in this moment is just focus on what you can control.”