On October 7, 2024, it became official that Jett Luchanko, did in fact, make the big club. He put forth one heck of a Training Camp and pre-season to earn this spot on the roster.
“It’s been my goal since I can remember was to make the NHL. First I called my parents. All the credit goes to them.” – Jett Luchanko said after learning he made the team
Flyers’ General manager Danny Briere spoke about him yesterday, “There’s guys that were rushed, that never really took the next steps. And there’s guys that were rushed and became amazing players. The one player like that that comes to mind for me is Patrice Bergeron,” Briere said at his opening night presser.
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Now Luchanko’s season with the Guelph Storm has concluded, so now the plan is for him to join the Lehigh Valley Phantoms with their playoff push, possibly as early as Thursday in preparation for this week’s games.
A player can play in the AHL at the conclusion of the CHL season, not during the middle of it, or the beginning of it, even if they don’t meet the initial age requirement of 20, per AHL rules. Now a player can get called up to the big club for emergency purposes only, that’s the only way they could receive a recall when the CHL season begins.
For those that forget, Luchanko played in four games with the Flyers, before being sent back to the Guelph Storm in the CHL. This means he can only play in a possible five games with the Flyers, or else they would have to burn one year of his ELC if he hits 10 games, thus sending him to the Phantoms to help the playoff push makes more sense. The last thing the organization wants to do is for him to become a yo-yo, especially this late in the season and a playoffs are out of sight for the big club.
Luchanko came in and blew the doors off training camp, according to Briere. He knew exactly what he had to do in order to make the club, so now he can take those skills that he learned to the Phantoms. Luchanko can skate, and that is one key element the Flyers/Phantoms lacked before his arrival in a major way.
He’s not like your average, typical prospect. Luchanko is very mature for his age, and that is yet another reason why this experience at the professional level will only help him.
Flyers’ Head Coach John Tortorella spoke on the need for speed in the Flyers lineup before the season began. 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 after Luchanko made the team.
Another area of Luchanko’s game that is intriguing is his excellent vision of the ice, rather it’s quite elite. He makes plays happen that is not spotted by the naked eye. Luchanko 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 could use more creativity with their offense, and Luchanko would infuse it greatly.
Luchanko has earned this newfound role with the Phantoms. Remember when some fans didn’t like the Luchanko pick at all? Well, Luchanko defied all the odds, and made the Flyers outright in his draft year. That means he’s a pretty special prospect.
