Flyers Prospects
Flyers Trade Down with Wild, Draft Jett Luchanko 13th Overall; Immediate Reaction
LAS VEGAS, NV. — After trading down one spot and acquiring a 2025 third-round pick, the Philadelphia Flyers selected Guelph Storm center Jett Luchanko with the 13th overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft.
Luchanko, 17, is a 5-foot-11, right-shot center whose skating, tenacity, and athleticism helped propel him up draft boards in recent weeks in months. Luchanko’s selection was one of a fewer stunners in the first round, though he is widely regarded as the first reach of the draft.
We heard Jett Luchanko would go earlier than expected today… but god damn that is early
— Cam Robinson (@Hockey_Robinson) June 29, 2024
The London, Ontario native models his game after fellow London native Travis Konecny, the Flyers’ two-time NHL All-Star right wing. Luchanko scored 20 goals, 54 assists, and 74 points in 68 games with Guelph this season.
Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki is another player Luchanko enjoys watching and modeling his game after.
“I like Nick Suzuki, he grew up in London as well,” Luchanko said. “He played on the Storm as well, so he’s someone I always watched really close. Someone who has a lot of detail to his game and does a lot of things right, so I’ve always liked to watch him.”
Much was made of the Flyers’ latest first-round pick, especially considering the events that preceded and followed Luchanko’s selection. Top defensemen Anton Silayev and Sam Dickinson were drafted 10th and 11th overall, and the Minnesota Wild traded up with the Flyers in order to draft star Unviersity of Denver defenseman Zeev Buium with the 12th pick.
Immediately after the Flyers took Luchanko with the 13th pick, the Buffalo Sabres took Finnish center Konsta Helenius, who was expected by many, including myself, to be the Flyers’ choice there. Another popular choice, winger Cole Eiserman, was selected by the New York Islanders with the 20th overall pick moments later.
The Flyers still hold the 32nd overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft at the time of this writing.
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Eiserman was there and they blew it. Helenius was also someone who could’ve been 1 or 2 center. No idea what they were thinking on this one. The passed on better players.
I like his potential physicality . I like someone moving up the draft recently too like Gauthier was at the time
maybe he’s the next mike richards
I’m still hoping for something BIG this summer . It will have to be via trade and not draft at this point .
we still have no power wing besides Hathaway in organization after trading allison
still hopeful . Love foerster and tippett As snipers
Welcome back German Rubostov, like the name change to Jett
Well, he was the Combine King. Hopefully he can put all that raw skills to work on the ice.
Jett Luchanko Testing Results
—EventResultAgility & Balance: Pro Agility – Left Time (sec)-Rank 12 – 4.35
–Agility & Balance: Pro Agility – Right Time (sec)-Rank 2 – 4.23
—Anaerobic Fitness: – Mean Power Output-Rank 1 – 12.9
—Anaerobic Fitness: – Peak Power Output-Rank 21 – 16.2
—Anaerobic Fitness: Fatigue Index-Rank 7 – 42.3
—Body Composition Juhasz % Body Fat-Rank 7 – 7.2
—Force Plate: Vertical Jump (inches)-Rank 2 – 24.63
—Force Plate: Squat Jump (inches)-Rank 8 – 18
—Force Plate: No Arm Jump (inches)-Rank 4 – 21.11
—Musculoskeletal: Bench Press 50% of Body Weight – Power-Rank 24 – .44
—Musculoskeletal: Left Hand Grip (lb)-Rank 1 – 172
—Musculoskeletal: Right Hand Grip (lb)-Rank 1 – 175
—Musculoskeletal: Horizontal Jump (inches)-Rank 21 – 109.3
Maybe he’s a sleeper, but I am not thrilled with this pick. In a way, it is a typical Flyers move for them to think they have some kind of special insight on a player that others don’t. He was ranked anywhere from #20 to #32, so it’s really quite a reach to take him at #13, especially with a much higher-rated Helenius or even Eiserman sitting there for the taking. I think that, once again, the Flyers passed on players they will regret passing on. They always leave the flashy players and scorers to take players described as “well-rounded”, “200-foot players”, “tenacious”, whatever. Luchanko’s ceiling is likely a third-line center, a Scott Laughton-type and the same old Flyers pick.
Exactly!!!!! They go go for 3/4 liners all around players, they never swing for fences , they are and have been dearth of anyone with star quality. Then they think Konecny is , and he’s not , another maybe quality 2nd liner, maybe. In two years a third liner and he’ll get paid like he’s Draisaitl . They have not shown like anything is going in right direction
Unless you are drafting from within the top 10 picks of most all drafts, the chances of that world class star player being taken really drops off……odds are against it.
Yeah I know that’s why Buium, a consensus top 10 was our best chance
Not convinced Michkov is going to be savior. Though he is more of what we need.
Day One and Danny Briere gets an F- grade. Buium, a consensus top 7 pick was there at 12. He trades down and takes someone that was way off the board (this guy is projected as a bottom six forward – Scott Laughton clone). Then Briere trades a first round pick away for…. only a first round pick???? Is that a first in the NHL? Why wasn’t there any extra scratch in that deal?
Had Buium not worked out, he has tons of cache and one could trade him to a team that believes in that. Luchanko has no such air about him, so if he doesn’t work out, he’s Jay O’Brien all over again.
To add, when was the last time trading down worked for the Flyers? Steve Downie? German Rubtsov?
Lastly, if you are rebuilding, why o why would you punt to next year and create that gap between a solid 2023 draft and 2025.
Best skaters:
… lots of great skaters in this draft, but John Mustard and A.J. Spellacy have the most natural top speed among the forwards, and E.J. Emery’s lengthy mobility really distinguishes his game. …Macklin Celebrini is an underrated skater. He’s got legitimate giddy-up and drives as many pucks through the neutral zone as any player in the draft. There are skaters of all shapes and sizes in this group, too. Cayden Lindstrom’s power. Michael Hage’s flow. Berkly Catton’s edges. Anton Silayev’s motion for his size.
1. John Mustard….2. A.J. Spellacy….3. E.J. Emery
4. Berkly Catton….5. Jett Luchanko…..6. Cayden Lindstrom
7. Sam Dickinson….8. Luke Misa….9. Macklin Celebrini
10. Michael Hage….11. Leo Sahlin Wallenius
Great pick IMO…Spencer Gill
https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/716274/spencer-gill
Best pick yet for team
While I think they did well with Gill, it was exhausting watching them shit the bed in the first round. Luchanko wasn’t on anyone’s board. They could have picked up Buium at 12 and picked Luchanko at 32 and we could have had some peace in that the Flyers grabbed a big time quality player at a position of need (Buium).
The NHL Draft is a fickle bitch. Rule of thumb is that one MUST hit in the first round and hope that you get a little lucky in later rounds. I feel like this is a case study in how NOT to treat the first round. It was a gift that Buium was available and Briere passed.
https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/603229/zeev-buium