Jett Luchanko isn’t eligible for the AHL. Is he better suited going back to the OHL or sticking it out the whole year with the Philadelphia Flyers?
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Since being drafted 13th overall in the 2024 NHL Draft, Jett Luchanko has been on the fast track to the NHL.
Luchanko, who was the second youngest player in the 2024 Draft, defied the odds and made the Flyers out of training camp last season. He became the youngest Flyers player to debut at just 18 years and 57 days old.
While the speed of the NHL quickly caught up to him, playing in just four games, the Flyers ultimately made the right decision to send him back to the OHL.
“We think it’s the best thing for his development,” GM Danny Briere told reporters last season after Luchanko was sent back to the Guelph Storm. “We said it from Day 1… It’s not about how good Jett can be this year, it’s thinking three, five, seven years down the road.”
Briere added, “we feel, for his development, and to have the best Jett Luchanko, he needs to go play a lot of minutes. He needs to go learn to be ‘the guy’.”
Fast forward 365 days, and the Flyers once again have a decision to make on Luchanko. One that could lead to a similar decision to last season.
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Due to his age and OHL status, Luchanko has the same options for where to play as he did last season. His two options are in the NHL with the Flyers or in the OHL with the Guelph Storm.
The player transfer agreement between the NHL and CHL, which is keeping Luchanko from playing in the AHL, will change next season.
Beginning in 2026, a new exemption will allow each NHL team to place one 19-year-old CHL player on its AHL roster. It was a change to combat the new NCAA/CHL eligibility agreement agreed on last season.
However, that does not help the Flyers with Luchanko this season.
The Flyers are at a crossroads with their decision on Luchanko. While he hasn’t done anything really impressive to stand out, he also hasn’t done anything bad to not warrant a look at the NHL.
Therefore, what is the best option?
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The best option is in the NHL. Like last season, the Flyers getting a look at Luchanko at the NHL level is a good start.
Now, for him to stick with the Flyers the whole season, his play will have to show it.
However, if the Flyers do choose to send him back to the OHL, it would be pointless if it were to Guelph.
In the latest coaches’ poll in the OHL, Guelph was picked to finish second-to-last. Even if Luchanko rejoins Guelph, he will not impact the Storm that much to change their ranking.
This may also be a reason why the Flyers keep Luchanko on the NHL roster for the full season.
In any case, the expectation is that the Flyers will take the same route as last season. Luchanko will start the season on the roster, and a decision will be made before Game 10 – the point at which his contract will slide another year.
PHOTO CREDIT: Mitchell Leff Getty Images
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