LAS VEGAS — The Flyers traded both of their first-round draft picks on Friday at the Sphere, moving down to fill an organizational need with what they believe is a promising young center while also gaining an extra pick in next year’s draft.
After so much pre-draft chatter about the Flyers attempting to trade up, including a report from The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun on Thursday that they were in discussions with Columbus for the No. 4 overall pick, they ended up moving down from No. 12 to No. 13 in a deal with Minnesota that also gained them the Wild’s 2025 third-round pick.
The Flyers then used the No. 13 pick to select center Jett Luchanko from Guelph of the OHL, with a little help from legendary announcer and Philadelphia native Michael Buffer, who was brought on stage. After his signature “Let’s Get Ready to Rumble” proclamation, Buffer then mentioned Luchanko’s 5-foot-11, 187-pound frame, as if the player were a light heavyweight preparing for a title fight.
Later, the Flyers traded the No. 32 pick, which originally belonged to Florida, to Edmonton for the Oilers’ 2025 first-round pick (top-12 protected).
The result is that the Flyers now have 13 picks in the 2025 draft, including three in the first round. They also have three in the second round, as the Columbus Blue Jackets opted to give the Flyers their second-round pick next year rather than this year, as was their option.
Got all that?
That the Flyers selected a center with what ended up as their only first-rounder this year wasn’t all that surprising. In fact, general manager Daniel Briere said last week that the team was likely to lean in that direction.
Flyers chairman Dan Hilferty on Michael Buffer: “The NHL gave us the opportunity to find a ‘Philly Star.’ The team thought Michael would be a perfect pick. He nailed it. It was awesome.”
— Kevin Kurz (@KKurzNHL) June 29, 2024
Luchanko came on their radar originally as a guy who the Flyers figured might be available with their late first-round pick, but whose in-season improvements increased his stock.
“We didn’t want to move too far back because Jett was our guy that we wanted,” Briere said. “We had a feeling that we could move back a little bit. We explored different options. That was the only one that really was safe enough and gave us a chance to acquire more draft capital. But, we were very careful to not move too far back because we really wanted Jett.”
Still, Briere said that the Flyers had discussions to move up in the draft before they ultimately moved back.
“There was some traction to move up,” he said. “Probably not what you’re thinking. I know there were some rumors about fourth and fifth pick. I don’t think those were ever serious. But there was other teams we were talking (with) about moving up. It has to make sense for both sides. It had to be something that worked for both teams.”
Luchanko — who mentioned that he has cousins that live in nearby Kennett Square, Penn. — fills an organizational need, particularly after the Flyers selected right wing Matvei Michkov and defenseman Oliver Bonk with their two first-round picks last year, followed by goalies in the second and third rounds.
Luchanko’s “stock kept going up this season,” according to The Athletic’s Corey Pronman, who had Luchanko going at No. 18 in his final mock draft.
“Jett’s a player we’re really excited about,” assistant general manager Brent Flahr said. “He’s a centerman. Brings speed. Very smart. Very detailed, both ends of the rink. His offense took a big step this year. As he gets stronger, he’s going to be more and more dynamic, and we’re really excited about his potential.”
Luchanko, who said he models his game off of Montreal’s Nick Suzuki, called his speed his “strongest asset. It’s definitely one of the biggest things I use to kind of create space for myself and my teammates.”
He had an inking that he might end up with the Flyers based on his pre-draft meetings with team brass, but was still unsure how it would play out.
“We had good talks coming in,” he said. “I had a feeling they were interested. I didn’t know coming in if they were going to take me or not, but obviously they made some trades there, too. It was a surprise a little bit.”
Briere made it known that they view Luchanko, who led Guelph with 74 points (20 goals, 54 assists) in 68 games and was a key contributor on both the power play and penalty kill, as a center, now and in the future.
“Absolutely, he’s a center the way he plays, the way he works, the way he is a complete player, first of all,” Briere said. “He got better and better as the season went on. … And we feel he’s just starting to tap his potential.”
Briere continued: “If you watch him play, he’s always one of the hardest workers, both sides of the ice. His vision, his hockey sense are high end. There’s obviously some things that we’ll work with him to develop and increase, but to have a guy who understands both sides of the ice the way he does — and you look at the way he played, it was a team that just barely made the playoffs in Guelph, he was the motor for that team. He drove the play.”
Luchanko expects to be at Flyers development camp, which begins on Tuesday. Briere mentioned that it’s unlikely that Michkov, who has yet to be officially signed, will be able to take part.
The Flyers made another transaction before the draft on Friday when they bought out veteran forward Cam Atkinson, who had one year left on his contract at a $5.875 million salary cap hit.
The Flyers attempted to trade Atkinson, who suffered through a miserable second half last season and would have dropped even further on the depth chart with Michkov’s arrival, but couldn’t find any takers. The move frees up approximately $3.5 million in salary cap space for 2024-25.
“Cam was a total pro the whole time,” Briere said. “He helped the culture when we started turning things around, and we owe hm a lot for that. Unfortunately, with the arrival of Matvei and the cap crunch that we’re in, it was a decision that unfortunately needed to be made.”
(Photo of Jett Luchanko: Bruce Bennett / Getty Images)
