Philadelphia Flyers
Is Jett Luchanko Ready for the NHL?
The Philadelphia Flyers have got their answer on Porter Martone’s future, but what about Jett Luchanko?
Luchanko, the Flyers’ 2024 13th overall draft selection, provides an interesting case for Philly. The team signed him to his entry-level contract last season, which led to him playing four games in the NHL before returning to Guelph.
After his season in Guelph concluded, Luchanko returned to the Flyers’ organization, where he played in the AHL for the Phantoms, which was legal since the Storm were eliminated.
Now, the Flyers are faced with the choice of whether to keep Luchanko on the NHL roster or send him back to the OHL. Signing his ELC has made him ineligible for the NCAA, which is likely the best place for his development. He will be 19 come December 31st, which makes him ineligible for the AHL once again.
Between the Flyers’ depth at center and the steps Luchanko has made in his development, is he ready for the NHL?
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Where Does Luchanko Fit in the Flyers Center Depth
The Flyers are extremely thin at center, yet they do have plenty of ~capable~ centers. One would imagine that Trevor Zegras and Sean Couturier will be the team’s top-six centermen. That would leave the two other center spots for Noah Cates, Christian Dvorak, and Rodrigo Abols, who are all currently on the NHL roster. Karsen Dorwart and Jacob Gaucher will likely join Luchanko in the battle for those final roster spots.
As I mentioned, the Flyers have options, but they may not be ideal. The good news? Each of those players is more than capable of playing the wing. So, despite there only being two center spots and six centers fighting for them, some may still be able to make the roster due to their versatility.
But, if he were to make the NHL roster as a wing, would that be better or worse for Luchanko’s development? To me, it feels as if Luchanko makes the NHL roster, it would push Noah Cates back to the wing.
It’s a double-edged sword. You either keep Luchanko in the NHL and have him play develop at the wing because that’s all that’s open, or you push Cates back to the wing after his best career year at center.
To me, Luchanko is probably the fifth-best option the Flyers have at center this season, behind Zegras, Couturier, Cates, and Dvorak. However, if pushing one of the bottom-six centers to the wing means Luchanko does not return to Guelph, it’s worth it. I just don’t want him playing the wing.
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Do the Numbers Suggest He Is Ready for the NHL
All of this could be a moot point if the Flyers believe Luchanko’s numbers suggest he is not ready for the NHL. So, let’s look at the numbers?
Prior to being drafted by the Flyers, Luchanko posted 20 goals and 54 assists for 74 points in 68 games–a 1.09 point-per-game pace.
Luchanko did not play as many games in the O this past season since he began the year in the NHL, and took some time away when he represented Canada at the World Juniors. So, in 46 games for Guelph this past season, Luchanko had 21 goals and 35 assists for 56 points, playing at a 1.22 point-per-game pace.
At World Juniors, Luchanko had one goal, his only point in five games. He never registered a point in the NHL–though he did seem to be able to keep pace.
Once Guelph’s season concluded, Luchanko joined the Phantoms for the postseason run. Although he did not score any goals, he registered nine assists in 16 total games. Specifically, he earned six assists in seven playoff games, where he looked much more comfortable.
To me, the numbers suggest that he is not quite ready for the NHL, but is right on the doorstep. The NCAA or AHL would be the perfect spot for him, so it’s a shame he is ineligible for both. Now, we will just have to wait until camp to see if he will be ready for the NHL.
Do you think Luchanko will be on the NHL roster?
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So to clarify, he is not eligible for the AHL until he turns 19?
In any event, from the limited amount I have seen him, he’s not an NHL player yet.
You have to turn 20 before Dec. 31 of the season
He turns 19 next month…..and though prohibited from joining the Phantoms…he also is prohibited from being loamed to a KHL team for a year….from what I was told, but have not find anything in the Player Transfer Agreement with the KHL So if he fails to make the Flyers, it is back to the Storm I guess…..not a perfect storm it appears.
I was at the Phantoms home playoff games last year, and Luchanko was noticeable on ice. The other team had to account for him (because of his speed), and it seemed like he was constantly winning face offs.
He does need to find his scoring touch, and playing consistently with better players will help him find it with the Flyers.
Honestly, I’d drop Couturier down on the center depth (to 3rd line) and Cates to the wing before I’d send Luchanko down to junior level again. I appreciate all that Couturier has done for the team, but he skates like he’s carrying an anchor and is the opposite of what the team is trying to build for the future (speed).
Luchanko is part of that future and deserves to be on the Flyers now, developing with the rest of the core of the future. Another year of junior hockey will do nothing for him.
Yeah, it’s not an ideal situation and the Guelph team is extremely weak, if he does go juniors I wish it were to a team that’s better so the opposition doesn’t key on him so much.
The opposition keying on him isn’t a bad thing as it forces him to get better… which is good for development.
I’m ok for a player who isn’t 19 yet and is 5’11” 180 pounds going back to juniors for another season to be the top center and play 20+ minutes a game. Why rush him to the NHL?
Maze zero sense to rush signing Luchanko. Horrible reach passing over Buium too imho. Buium will be in the Calder race next year and Luchanko will probably be in the OHL still. Should tell everybody exactly what they need to know about that horrible pick. No shade on Luchanko. I think he could be a good player. But passing on a prospect like Buium with such an high ceiling and elite potential is just plain stupid. Almost as stupid as the Drysdale return for Gauthier without a 1st round pick. Flyers would have been MUCH better off sending Gauthier to Winnipeg for McGroarty. The Drysdale return was horrible. Hopefully Zegras can get him producing.
And Briere is intelligent enough to bring in Martin Necas from Colorado or Mason McTavish from Anaheim!
Send Luchanko, Brink, Leafs 2027 1st, and a 2nd and or 3rd to Anaheim or Colorado.
McTavish has a much higher ceiling then people think and has been suffocating in Anaheim without proper attention and development yet still had a huge breakout season last year and has been consistent on both sides of the puck and scored around a 0.5+ ppg or better his last three seasons progressing every year. McTavish is also still very young, matches the timeline, and brings size and physicality to the 1st or 2nd line Center position. He’s also looking for a long term deal and a way out of Anaheim right now and is still an RFA. A top6 consisting of guys like Michkov, Martone, McTavish, Zegras, Konecny, and Foerster could be a deadly looking top6. And the same deal for Necas would also be a clear win. Necas a little older if he could reteun to Center and play around a ppg pace would be an absolute WIN for The Flyers. Briere should be ALL OVER trying to bring McTavish or Necas to Philadelphia to Center Michkov. And McTavish or Necas would add size, skill, and elite potential down the middle that The Flyers are severely lacking in a major way.
I would even see if Anaheim or Colorado would be interested in taking Couturier in a package with Brink and a 2nd rounder or something for McTavish or Necas. Couturier may fit in with a team like Colorado. And Anaheim has a very low intelligent front office willing to make stupid moves to prioritize the players they are biased towards. Couturier fits that mold to the T. Plus both Mason McTavish and (even more so) Martin Necas look like legit top6 Centers with elite ppg potential who bring a style The Flyers are lacking and play a position they desperately need. Having the option to play either McTavish/Necas or Zegras with Michkov would give you some legitimate high end options that can develop chemistry and keep up with Michkov and Martone AND develop that chemistry from (just about) day one (or very early in) of their careers.
Not to mention Zegras and Drysdale would basically be welcoming McTavish home and should already have some chemistry with each other. Tochett would love McTavish centering Michkov I’m sure. Lol. McTavish looks and plays like a born Flyer. Let’s all manifest the M&M&M line. (Michkov/McTavish/Martone)