Luchanko Opening Eyes at 1st Rookie Camp

Much of the focus has been on the first camp for 2023 first-round pick Matvei Michkov at Flyers rookie camp, and rightfully so. Michkov scored in his first rookie game and made several creative plays that show the skills he possesses. 

Playing on his line in Friday’s rookie game was 2024 first-round pick Jett Luchanko, who has certainly been opening eyes in his own right during camp. The center has shown good all-around abilities and a maturity in his game that has some wondering if a tryout at the NHL level is possible.

“That’s obviously up to [John Tortorella] and his performance,” assistant GM Brent Flahr said on Sunday. “That’s a big stretch, but I guess it’s possible. I wouldn’t say no. We’re worried about the player at 22, 23, more so than at 18. He’s here to make the team. That’s his mentality. I’m certainly not going to tell him anything different.”

Flahr’s right to pump the brakes on Luchanko. While he had an impressive rookie series over the weekend, it is only two rookie games so far, and going up against the next level of competition at main camp could show that more time in juniors is necessary for the 18-year-old.

“He’s a young guy. He just turned 18 recently. I think he’s mature beyond his years, but at the same time, there’s lots of things in his game that he can improve on at the junior level,” Flahr said. “He generates offense, but at the same time, to take that game to another level, it’s hard to do at the pro level when you’re 18 years old. I think junior level will be good for him. He’s unlike a lot of other kids where they get a little complacent. I don’t think he has that gene in him.”

In just a few days, Luchanko will have a chance to play among the veterans as main camp begins. An initial goal for the first-round pick should be to make the lineup in a preseason game, much like fellow prospects Oliver Bonk and Denver Barkey did a season ago fresh from the draft. Then, the competition can begin and Luchanko can influence whether he gets a longer look or goes back to juniors before training camp barely gets off the ground.

In the expected event that Luchanko does return to juniors, he’ll get plenty of minutes and play a big role for the Guelph Storm. But for now, the message is to simply play to his strengths and be himself.

“He knows what he is. He knows what he has to do,” Flahr said. “We don’t ask him to be anything more. He’s going to be a big leader on that team. He’s going to play a ton of minutes in all situations, which is great. We don’t want him to be anything that he’s not. Just make sure he’s taking care of himself, getting better everyday.”

Kevin Durso is Flyers insider for 97.3 ESPN. Follow him on social media @Kevin_Durso.