Yesterday, the Philadelphia Flyers announced their opening night roster which included Guelph Storms forward Jett Luchanko.
“We’re going to let the kid play and have conversations as we’re playing the games and see where it goes from there,” said Flyers Head Coach John Tortorella.
Philadelphia selected Luchanko with the thirteenth pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. He scored 20 goals and added 54 assists for a total of 74 points in 68 games for Guelph last year.
He also performed well while playing for Canada at the U-18 World Junior Championship last year. In seven games he scored two goals and added five assists helping the team to bring home a gold medal.
The young centerman prides himself in playing a 200-foot game. He is impactful on both ends of the ice excelling offensively and defensively.
Luchanko has been impressive while playing for the Flyers during the pre-season even drawing compliments from Tortorella on several occasions.
“You could see the maturity right away,” said Tortorella. “He deserves to be where he is right now, he deserves just through his play and just how he’s handled himself.”
Philadelphia is a rebuilding team that needs to capitalize on its young talent. Luchanko will be joined by Flyers 2023 first-round pick Matvei Michkov who many fans are excited to see take his first steps into the NHL.
The pair of young forwards will get opportunities to play alongside experienced players like Sean Couturier, Scott Laughton and Travis Konecny.
Philadelphia outperformed expectations last season finishing eleventh in the league. They had a 38-33-12 record making them an above .500 team.
This year’s roster is likely to be stronger than last year’s as they have added some important young talent including Luchanko.
It will be a great opportunity for Luchanko to learn and grow. While he is not guaranteed to stay in the NHL he will have the opportunity to earn his spot through the beginning of the year.
Related: Jett Luchanko Signs Entry-Level Contract With Philadelphia
Related: 2024 NHL Draft Player Profile: Jett Luchanko, A Maple Leafs Fan Who Models His Game After Montreal Centerman
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