Oct 11, 2025; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Philadelphia Flyers center Jett Luchanko (17) has the puck poked away by Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere (4) during the second period at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images
One of the Flyers top prospects, Jett Luchanko, is on the move in junior hockey.
Luchanko, who remains property of the Flyers, was traded from Guelph to Brantford on Monday, putting him on a much more offensively dynamic team with a loose connection to the Flyers.
Having been awarded being the home team for the 2027 Memorial Cup, the Canadian Hockey League tournament that features the three CHL champions (OHL, WHL, QMJHL) and a host team, Guelph wants to ensure it has a team that can compete.
With Luchanko ticketed for professional hockey after this season, they were able to trade him for a player (F Layne Gallacher) and four draft picks.
Those assets will put them in position to acquire players for next season to make Guelph a more competitive team.
Luchanko has two goals and 15 assists for 17 points in just 11 games for Guelph this season.
Jett Luchanko had FIVE PRIMARY ASSISTS tonight! Now up to 16 points (2G-14A) in 9 games played this year, here's all 5 of them from tonight:#LetsGoFlyers pic.twitter.com/z6LMAfiaIL
Meanwhile, this is a boon for the Flyers as it gets Luchanko onto a loaded Brantford team with several top prospects, including Jake O'Brien (Seattle), Adam Jiricek (St. Louis), Marek Vanacker (Chicago), and Ben Danford (Toronto), all of whom are first-round picks.
Brantford is off to an incredibly fast start with the OHL's best record (18-0-4-1), meaning Luchanko is looking at participating in a probable lengthy playoff run.
The Flyers believe that experience, plus playing with a lot of top talent will be a boon for Luchanko.
Luchanko, 19, is also expected to play for Team Canada in the World Junior Championships next month.
Another benefit for the Flyers in this deal is that Brantford is coached by former NHL defenseman Jay McKee, who was a teammate of Flyers G.M. Danny Briere when they were together in Buffalo.
The pair remain very close, so much so that McKee was a hot rumor candidate to join the Flyers in some capacity last season, before signing an extension with Brantford in June.
Still, having a close friend coaching one of your top prospects is a good thing from a development standpoint as there is more direct and honest communication about the player.
