A rumored change of junior teams for Jett Luchanko finally became reality on Monday when the Flyers’ 2024 first-round draft pick was traded from the Guelph Storm to the Brantford Bulldogs in the Ontario Hockey League.
Luchanko, 19, has had brief trials at the start of the last two seasons with the Flyers and showed promise on both occasions.
The Bulldogs still have yet to lose a game in regulation this season. Through 23 games, the team is 18-0-5, and after acquiring another elite-caliber player, the question is: How many games will they lose in regulation time this season?
Flyers coach Rick Tocchet had praise for Luchanko after this season’s trial and predicted good things for the young center’s future. Luchanko has had his name in trade discussions since last season. It was a surprise that he wasn’t moved after he came back from representing Team Canada at the 2025 World Juniors, but he is on the move now.
The move should give Luchanko a better chance to show off what he can do offensively with the Bulldogs.
In exchange for dealing away its captain, Guelph received 2008-born center Layne Gallacher, a 2027 second-round pick, a 2028 second-round pick, a 2029 third-round pick, and a 2029 fifth-round pick).
“We are incredibly excited to acquire Jett Luchanko,” Brantford GM Spencer Hyman told The Hockey News. “While the Storm are getting a talented young forward back and two second-round draft picks, I did expect them to get a few more draft picks back in return for their number one centerman.
“Jett brings elite speed, is outstanding in the dots, and is an exceptional playmaker. He is a player who immediately makes our hockey club better. He has been a priority target for us from day one, and we could not be more thrilled to officially welcome Jett and his family to the Bulldogs.”
Luchanko has been playing well in his second tour of duty in the OHL. Although Guelph lost all three of its games over the weekend, Luchanko had a total of six assists, five in a 10-7 loss to Owen Sound.
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The Flyers played a very solid all-around game in a 6-3 win over the Devils Saturday night. Tocchet would like to use some of those good things as a future model.
“I thought we played fast,” Tocchet said after Monday morning’s skate at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa. “There was about a five-minute stretch where we got the puck, we looked to go north and everybody reacted off it. We made some nice plays. (Noah) Cates’ backhand pass (to Tyson Foerster) on an odd-man rush, that’s a high-end play.”
The Flyers set a team record with three goals in 26 seconds. The old record was 35, twice, both occuring more than 40 years ago.
“The first 10 minutes, the guys were on top of the puck,” Tocchet said. “Now we’re looking for 60 minutes of consistency.”
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Defenseman Egor Zamula came off a long period of inactivity and produced a plus-5 against the Devils. The Flyers coaching staff had plenty of praise for the young Russian.
“It’s hard … ’Z’ not playing for four or five games, when you’re in, to have a night like that,” Tocchet said. “A plus-5, hopefully that gives him confidence – gives him some giddy-up-and-go. We want his puck touches to be quick. If he does that, he can be a good defenseman for us.”
Source: Berkshire mont
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