Flyers trade back to 13 for Jett Luchanko in Round 1 of NHL Draft
Jett Luchanko, center, poses after being selected by the Flyers during the first round of the NHL draft Friday night in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Steve Marcus)
After trading with the Minnesota Wild, the Flyers moved back to 13 overall in the first round and decided to choose the center Jett Luchanko.
This move by Daniel Briere is surprising because Konsta Helenius was available at 13 overall, or the Flyers could have kept their 12 overall pick and go with the defenseman Zeev Buium from the University of Denver in the NCAA.
Luchanko is a 17-year-old kid, playing in the OHL with the Guelph Storm during the past 2 seasons. During the 2022-2023 season, he scored 5 goals in 46 games, with a total of 14 points. And, last season, he scored 20 goals, with a total of 74 points in 68 games.
Some of the pro scouts, such as Jérôme Bérubé, see him as a hard worker, a smart player, and has a lot of speed. To add on that, per Bérubé, he is not seen as a “sniper” but seen more as a “playmaker”, but can produce because of his “playmaking” ability.
Also, as some of the scouts saw, Luchanko described himself as a “fast player” and someone “who brings it every night” and “tries to not take a shift off.”
Jett Luchanko is, for sure, an interesting pick, the question will be: did the Flyers make the right decision? Only the future will answer to this question.
To end the night, the Flyers traded pick No. 32 to the Oilers for a first-rounder in 2025 or ’26, with some conditions.
Use code PHILLYSPORTSREPORT for $20 off your first SeatGeek order
Click here to save 10% on any order at FOCO
