© Philadelphia Flyers

VOORHEES, N.J. — Jett Luchanko was selected by the Philadelphia Flyers with the No. 13 pick of the 2024 Upper Deck NHL Draft because of his skating and playmaking abilities.

However, in order to make it as an NHL player, the forward prospect must recognize the need for a shift in mindset. It is crucial for him to cultivate a mentality that prioritizes shooting first and foremost.

Despite only taking 125 shots on goal in 68 games, Luchanko still managed to lead Guelph of the Ontario Hockey League with an impressive 74 points, which included 20 goals and 54 assists.

“At Flyers development camp, which took place from July 2-6, Luchanko expressed his determination to focus on improving and honing his skills throughout this summer, as well as in the upcoming year and beyond. He emphasized the importance of working on all aspects of his game and dedicated himself to putting in extra effort towards achieving that goal.”

Riley Armstrong, the director of player development for the Flyers, revealed that he and his team have already had discussions with Luchanko regarding the need to enhance his offensive strategy. They emphasized the significance of providing the opposition with more challenges, instead of relying solely on quick passes to open teammates.

Armstrong emphasized the importance of being a versatile player, stating, “The key is to consistently be a dual threat on the ice. If you constantly focus on making passes, professional teams will easily catch on through video analysis, realizing that you primarily prioritize passing.”

Goalies possess greater intelligence as they analyze the origin of the shot option. However, once a player incorporates shooting skills into their game, they are likely to outsmart goalies who anticipate a pass and score on the short side.

© Philadelphia Flyers

Luchanko’s gameplay relies heavily on his skating abilities, speed, and the element of deception. Nevertheless, in order to improve his performance from last season, he must aim for an average of more than 1.8 shots on goal per game.

“The one-man power-play break-in is what we called him in London,” said Flyers defenseman prospect Oliver Bonk, whose team played against Guelph and Luchanko six times in the OHL last season. “Because they just swing it back to him, and one against four he’d skate it in every time. So, he’s a special player.”

Guelph general manager George Burnett said Luchanko’s pass-first approach was in part the 17-year-old being more deferential to his older linemates last season, 20-year-old Jake Karabela and captain Braeden Bowman, who turned 21 on June 26.

According to Armstrong, falling into this common trap is something that young players often encounter, and Philadelphia’s development staff will make efforts to help him escape from it.

“You look at [Flyers forwards] Tyson Foerster and Bobby Brink, they get up there and they’re playing with ‘TK’ [Travis Konecny] or [Joel] Farabee and they’re like, ‘I’ve got to pass the puck to those guys.’ And we’re like, ‘No, you guys can score goals too.’ It’s good, and when you add more of that into your lineup it’s always better.”

Luchanko, who was Guelph’s nominee for the Bobby Smith Award as the top scholastic player in the OHL last season, is smart enough to understand exactly what’s needed for him to take his game to the next level. It’s why he’s been watching video of Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews and Chicago Blackhawks forward Connor Bedard for tips on developing a more deceptive shot.

He stated that enhancing his skills as a dual threat would greatly benefit his game. He expressed that his focus has always been on improving his shooting abilities and increasing his shooting mindset. Currently, he is dedicating a significant amount of effort towards honing these aspects.