Flyers Prospects
Jett Luchanko Traded to OHL Contender
After what felt like over a year of speculation, Flyers prospect Jett Luchanko has been traded in the OHL.
First reported by Jeff Marek, Luchanko is headed to the Brantford Bulldogs. Marek reports that 2026 draft prospect Laynce Gallacher and picks will be headed back to Guelph.
Now, the Flyers’ prospect will be teaming up with 2025 Kraken first-round pick Jake O’Brien on a Bulldogs team that has yet to lose in regulation this season.
Through 23 games, Brantford is 18-0-5. Luchanko is genuinely on a contending team in the OHL. Making the move for Luchanko was the second big splash Brantford made. They traded for Maple Leafs’ 2024 first-round pick Ben Danford earlier this season.
Not only is Luchanko joining a talented roster, but now, he will be coached by Jay McKee. McKee was considered to be a real candidate for the Flyers’ head coaching vacancy, which was filled by Rick Tocchet. McKee and Flyers’ GM Danny Briere have close relationship from their playing days. I am sure the Flyers’ brass is happy about the new landing spot.
The trade just made sense for the Storm. Guelph was named the host for the 2027 Memorial Cup. That gives the team an automatic bid. Now, with the team likely out of contention this season, they are pushing their chips to the 2027 season.
This season, Luchanko has two goals and 15 assists in 11 games since returning to the OHL. The Flyers prospect has gone from a non-contender to a contender for his final season of juniors.
Luchanko on this talented Bulldogs team will be fun to watch.
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I guess I’m having trouble seeing this as a positive thing.
He’s going from a team where he’s the star, and other teams key on stopping HIM, to a team where there are other good players.
Yes, that might allow him to pad his OHL stats if teams are paying more attention to other players on his line, but I would think that Guelph is a more challenging situation that would help him grow more.
Similarly, wouldn’t it make sense that his minutes will go down now? I’m always hearing how we can’t put our prospects on the Flyers because they won’t get enough minutes, so why wouldn’t it be better to have him continue to play on a Guelph team and get max minutes there (vs sharing minutes with other more talented players on the new team)?
Finally, I get that he’s on a playoff team now in the OHL. But I’d much rather see his OHL season end early so he can at least play for Lehigh Valley in the AHL in late March and April. That seems much closer to NHL competition than playing against kids in the OHL.
We do want him to play in the NHL as soon as possible, right? Or is this just another blown draft pick that the Flyers hope we forget about by the time he’d normally be ready to get called up (based on his age).