The Flyers moved again one spot within the first spherical of the 2024 NHL draft Friday night time and chosen Jett Luchanko, a middle from the OHL’s Guelph Storm, at thirteenth general.
Within the commerce with the Wild, the Flyers acquired a 2025 third-round choose.
The 5-foot-11, 187-pound Luchanko is a speedy, playmaking pivot who had 74 factors (20 targets, 54 assists) in 68 video games this season for the Storm.
On the 2024 IIHF U-18 World Junior Championship a month and a half in the past, he had seven factors (two targets, 5 assists) and a plus-5 score in seven video games for a Canada workforce that took residence gold medals.
Luchanko could be very younger for his draft. He does not flip 18 years outdated till Aug. 21.
Varied scouting companies didn’t fee him as extremely as different gamers that had been nonetheless on the board come the Flyers’ choose. Luchanko was slotted at No. 34 by EliteProspects.com and NHL Central Scouting had him because the Twentieth-ranked North American skater. He was thought-about the 18th-best participant by TSN’s Craig Button and No. 19 by TSN’s Bob McKenzie.
Finnish heart Konsta Helenius went off the board a choose after the Flyers took Luchanko. Helenius was as excessive as No. 6 on Button’s record and the third-ranked European skater by NHL Central Scouting.
Minnesota pick-swapped with the Flyers to take Denver defenseman Zeev Buium, who was ranked No. 7 by each EliteProspects.com and McKenzie.
The Flyers clearly had been bullish on Luchanko, who comes with a ton of upside at simply 17 years outdated. Heart is a premium place and it is the Flyers’ thinnest space within the group. Morgan Frost is the one first-round heart the Flyers have taken over the earlier 11 drafts that’s at present on their roster.
“Let’s face it, we’re missing facilities developing all through the group,” Flyers common supervisor Danny Briere mentioned a little bit over per week in the past. “We’ve not tried to cover that; it is a actuality.”
Luchanko may have an opportunity to offer the Flyers a raise down the center of their rebuild. The membership has needed to establish and develop a high-end heart to play alongside 19-year-old winger Matvei Michkov, its high prospect.
The Flyers wrapped up Friday night time by buying and selling their second first-round choose to the Oilers in change for a future first-rounder.
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