The Philadelphia Flyers selected Jett Luchanko from the OHL's Guelph Storm at No. 13 during the 2024 NHL Draft after an eyebrow-raising trade with the Minnesota Wild.
The Flyers traded their No. 12 to the Wild in order to acquire the No. 13 selection, along with a third-round pick in 2025.
The 17-year-old from London, Ontario will help add some depth to the Flyers' center options, a position that GM Danny Briere has said the team are lacking in in a pre-draft press conference.
Luchanko is a strong skater who knows how to control the pace of a game, utilizing excellent vision and passing skills "to elevate the play of those around him." A two-way forward who can be useful in every situation and is touted as having excellent leadership qualities, it's not difficult to see why the Flyers' front office targeted him.
Despite being one of the younger players in this year's draft, Luchanko is undoubtedly one of the most versatile, who puts in noticeable effort during every shift and is always looking to improve the inconsistent parts of his game.
"He can play in every situation, whether it's Guelph or Team Canada," said assistant GM Brent Flahr. "He's a leader. Coaches rave about him on both teams. We just think it's just the tip of the iceberg with him. He's a player we highly coveted."
Luchanko has drawn comparisons to Nick Suzuki of the Montreal Canadiens, and said himself that he patterns his game after current Flyers forward Travis Konecny.
Luchanko is expected to participate in the Flyers' development camp, which will take place from July 2-6.
