The Flyers moved up one spot in the first round of the 2024 NHL Draft on Friday night and selected Jett Luchanko, a center for the OHL’s Guelph Storm, 13th overall.
In the trade with the Wild, the Flyers acquired a 2025 third-round pick.
The 5-foot-11, 187-pound Luchanko is a speedy center and playmaker who scored 74 points (20 goals, 54 assists) in 68 games this season for the Storm.
A month and a half ago at the 2024 IIHF World Junior U18 Championship, he had seven points (two goals, five assists) and a plus-5 rating in seven games for a Team Canada that took home gold medals.
Luchanko is very young for his draft. He won’t turn 18 until August 21.
Various scouting services didn’t rate him as highly as other players who were still on the board following the Flyers’ pick. Luchanko was ranked No. 34 by EliteProspects.com and NHL Central Scouting ranked him as the No. 20-ranked North American skater. He was considered the 18th best player by TSN’s Craig Button and 19th by TSN’s Bob McKenzie.
Finnish center Konsta Helenius came off the board after the Flyers drafted Luchanko. Helenius was ranked No. 6 on Button’s list and the third-ranked European skater by NHL Central Scouting.
Minnesota traded picks with the Flyers to select Denver defenseman Zeev Buium, who was ranked No. 7 by both EliteProspects.com and McKenzie.
The Flyers were clearly bullish on Luchanko, who comes with plenty of potential at 17 years old. Center is a premium position and is the Flyers’ weakest area in the organization. Morgan Frost is the only first-round center the Flyers have taken in the previous 11 drafts who is currently on their roster.
“Let’s face it, we’re lacking rising centers throughout the organization,” Flyers general manager Danny Briere said a little more than a week ago. “We haven’t tried to hide it; it’s a reality.”
Luchanko will have a chance to give the Flyers a boost in the middle of the field during their rebuild. The club has wanted to identify and develop a high-level center to play alongside 19-year-old winger Matvei Michkov, their top prospect.
The Flyers closed out a deal Friday night by trading their second first-round pick to the Oilers in exchange for a future first-round pick.
Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts:
Apple Podcasts | Youtube Music | Spotify | Stitcher | Art19 | RSS | Watch on YouTube
Keynote USA
For the Latest Sports News, Follow Keynote USA Sports on Twitter.