Jett Luchanko’s career with the Philadelphia Flyers It started with a bang.
First, the Flyers’ general manager Danny Briere He was demoted from 12th to 13th at the last minute, a move that understandably sent Flyers fans into something of a downward spiral.
“He’s a pivot in the way he works and the way he plays,” Briere said. “He’s a complete player. He’s still very young … and he’s gotten better as the season has gone on. We think yes, he’s a pivot, absolutely, and he’s just starting to tap into his potential. We’re really excited to have the opportunity to get him. There were other good players in that area that we were looking at, but there wasn’t a big enough difference to go in a different direction. Getting a pivot was a big part of it for us.”
Then, once the trade was finalized, legendary boxing commentator Michael Buffer announced to the entire Sphere in Las Vegas that the Flyers had selected “Jetttt Luchankooooooo…“
Suffice to say, it’s been an eventful summer for the 18-year-old center, and in the two months since his selection, he’s still processing the whole experience.
“It’s pretty crazy,” Luchanko admitted. “I don’t know if I’ve really realized it, I haven’t had a lot of time to myself. It’s nice to be here and I can’t wait to get started.”
He had a good preparation for rookie camp after seriously impressing fans with his performance in the Guelph Storm’s pre-season workouts, which he said made the transition to an NHL camp easier.
“It’s really good to be able to play a few games before coming here and feel comfortable on the ice,” he said. “I felt like I played really well and our team looked really good too, so it’s good to get a few games in to get ready for (rookie camp).”
As one of the youngest players in this year’s draft (he just turned 18 on Aug. 21), Luchanko already possesses skills well beyond his years. A dynamic, versatile pivot who excels on both the power play and penalty kill, and who possesses a skating style that perfectly balances speed, grace and power.
“It doesn’t stop me from playing against older guys,” he said of being one of the youngest players in camp. “I just try to play my own game.”
One player he has formed a perhaps unexpected bond with is none other than Matvei Michkov. The two were put together on a line on the first day of camp and have shown an uncanny natural chemistry in the days that followed.
Lehigh Valley Phantoms head coach Ian Laperriere has repeatedly praised the way the two players play together, saying: “They have a great relationship. They played together (in the Flyers’ rookie series opener) and practiced together. If you have those guys in your top six going forward, the future is bright. They have different skills, but they’re both special players.”
Megan DeRuchie – Hockey News
For Luchanko, the bond between the two formed quite naturally, but it’s a bond he’s looking forward to continuing over the long term.
“We got on the pitch and started playing, feeding off each other,” he revealed. “(Michkov) could obviously play with anybody and make it easy for me, so hopefully we can keep that going.”
It wasn’t difficult for them to communicate, using the universal language of hockey and Michkov’s ever-improving English skills to strengthen their relationship.
“It’s a great way for us to communicate, but he’s gotten really good at English, especially with the little knowledge he has and it’s new to him,” Luchanko said. “He’s doing really well, so it’s not hard to communicate with him.”
He likely won’t get a chance to play with Michkov on the Flyers this season, instead returning to the OHL for the 2024-25 campaign, but as he continues his development, he doesn’t have a laundry list of specific goals in mind. Instead, he’ll simply continue to work in line with a philosophy he’s stuck to his entire career: “I think for me, one thing for sure is working hard every day and coming to the rink and trying to get better. I think good things come from that.”
Megan DeRuchie – Hockey News
For now, he still has to get used to the Flyers’ system and get to know players who could very well become his teammates in the future. They’ll hang out, maybe have dinner together and go to an Eagles game.
“I never really had a team before,” Luchanko admitted, despite being a big football fan.
But make no mistake: He knows who he’s rooting for now that he’s in Philadelphia, saying he “thinks the Eagles have a really good team.”
This summer proved that Jett Luchanko is a player Flyers faithful should keep a close eye on — if your brain has time to register it before he rushes to the other end of the rink, that is.
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