Photo Credit: Our very own Michael Reaves
Speed, speed, speed. Flyers’ Head Coach John Tortorella spoke on the need for speed in the Flyers lineup. Luchanko more than provides that, as he is an elite skater. “The speed he brings through the middle of the ice is intriguing,” Tortorella said last week following practice. Unfortunately, all has come to an end, as Luchanko was sent back to his home Junior team in the Guelph Storm.
Luchanko defied all the odds, and made the Flyers opening night roster, to which many pundits alike never thought he crack the opening night lineup. He really has opened eyes, not only with the coaching staff and Flyers top brass, but with the Flyers faithful.
Coupled with that quote above, and last weeks quote before morning skate. It didn’t sound like Jett Luchanko would be sent back to his home junior team in the Guelph Storm after this nine game stint, “I’m not giving Jett a long look. I’m giving him more ice time because he deserves it. He adds a dimension of speed through the middle,” Tortorella said.
Speed is the name of the game in today’s NHL, and Tortorella knows that. Tortorella knows that no other player on the team has the speed that Luchanko has. Just look at his speed to enter the zone in this clip below with the man advantage. It helps the orange and black for zone entries, which they have struggled with for the past few seasons.
However, after two straight healthy scratch benchings it appeared the writing was on the wall for Jett Luchanko to be sent back to the Guelph Storm. Luchanko carried himself like a pro during his brief stint with the Flyers, and better yet he’s only 18-years-old. He weighs 190 pounds and stands at 5’11, but he plays like a player that weighs 230 pounds. He doesn’t shy away from puck battles and that was evident in his first three games as a Flyer. The Flyers were pinned in their own zone at one point in each game Luchanko has played in, but he holds a player along the boards, strips the player of the puck, and lifts the puck out of the zone.
The second Power Play unit for the Flyers looked in sync, with good puck movement with Luchanko in the lineup. Luchanko adds the speed element, but Bobby Brink, Joel Farabee, and Tyson Foerster were dominant. They are all being set up by Luchanko, with his willingness to take the hit to make the play.
For the past few seasons, since Jake Voracek was traded, the Flyers have struggled with zone entries with the man advantage. They just didn’t have the talent, with abilities to be an effective puck carrier while entering the zone. Luchanko’s speed is one reason he is able to enter zones cleanly, and more often than not.
Tortorella commended Luchanko for bringing a “Dynamic” ability for making plays to the man advantage. He also said that element was missing against the Calgary Flames. But, Tortorella did say this past Monday they would continue to evaluate Luchanko and make the right decision based off his play.
The 18-year-old in Luchanko has excellent vision of the ice, rather it’s quite elite, as well. He makes plays happen that is not spotted by the naked eye. He pays attention to the small details, like winning puck battles, making the right outlet passes, and enters the opponents zone with ease at times. The Flyers needed more creativity with their offense, and Luchanko infuses it greatly. Especially, with his great defensive skills. Luchanko plays very well defensively, and that is yet another element that Tortorella loves about the young man. Next season will be the season he will stay up with the big club for good.
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I’ll definitely be sharing this with my colleagues.