ALLENTOWN — The best and worst parts about being an NHL prospect are inextricably linked: the fact that the end of the journey has not yet been reached. The worst part, because the dream of becoming a full-timer in the best hockey league in the world has not been achieved. The best part, because the final story has yet to be written. A prospect trending downwards can always arrest that fall. He can still get back on track at any moment.
Which brings us to Carson Bjarnason and Jett Luchanko.
Both were high draft picks of the Daniel Briere era of the Philadelphia Flyers — Bjarnason in Round 2 of 2023, Luchanko in Round 1 of 2024. Both have had stretches of their post-draft careers when hype surrounding their futures was at exciting highs. And both now are coming off thoroughly disappointing seasons, looking to rebound in big ways and get their career trajectories back pointed firmly at the end goal for every prospect — the NHL.
Bjarnason’s strong first half in his first pro season was erased by such a disastrous second that he finished with an ugly 0.877 save percentage with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Luchanko managed just seven regular season goals in the OHL (two more in the playoffs) and watched the two picks from the 2024 draft most closely associated with him (Zeev Buium and Konsta Helenius) either impress in the NHL playoffs or end up one of the key pieces in a trade for a superstar and then get a $75 million contract from his new team.
Both Bjarnason and Luchanko remain high in the estimation of the Flyers. But both are facing career crossroads. Another underwhelming season, and the player may fall off prospect lists entirely. A bounceback, on the other hand, would make 2025-26 look like a mere aberration, a bump in the road on the way to a long and prosperous NHL career.
At least in the Flyers’ 3-2 victory over the New York Rangers rookies on Saturday night in Allentown, Bjarnason looked like the player closer to embarking on such a bounceback.
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8 Comments (7 conversations)
jaybes
I know it feels like there are constant excuses being made for his lack of offense (team too bad he needs help, team too good he needs ice time, core injury).
It feels like he’s been with the org for a long time already, and that he should be further along by now.
But he just turned 20 a few weeks ago. I don’t really care about the other guys drafted around him. Development isn’t a straight line and I still see a lot of potential in his speed, puck skills, and vision. He was definitely shaking off some rust and that turnover was awful. I want to see a full AHL season of Luchanko getting max ice time like Barkey and Bump did last year before call ups.
I thought he had good chemistry with Knuble. That could be fun to watch in Lehigh if it continues to develop. Knuble could bring more urgency to his game.
superunoriginal
Charlie pretty much captured the sentiment regarding the Luchanko pick. It’s not his fault as much as the nagging concern that the Flyers’ brass is not as smart as it thinks it is, and could be borderline delusional.
Goes back to the premise that they can rebuild and remain competitive, which works only if they don’t make mistakes. Luchanko could either show that the organization has its act together or they incapable of delivering. Becomes a weighing factor on Briere’s credibility.
Bruce Schwindt
Making even these limited judgments about Luchanko after about 15 minutes of ice time is ridiculous. It seems it’s ok for players who aren’t Luchanko or Michkov to make mistakes, no one gets all worked up, but suddenly Jett makes one error and somehow that would have ruined the whole night. Yes, they could have made a different pick but Christ almighty, let Jett have his year in LHV rather than find ways to support your continued anger Flyers didn’t pick who you wanted Charlie.
John Licciardello
Cole is 22, Bump will be 23 in month and Jett just turned 20. And I thought Jett centered that line well and did all the hard work on the Bump goal. And if Jett’s break away scores, people would all be hopping on the bandwagon this morning.
ifollowcharlieo
I’m not yet a Buium fan. Maybe I will be? He was certainly no sure thing at #13, and he is currently a very bad player making a lot of money. Will that change? Well, no—not the money, anyway. We will see about the other part.
For me, it’s Helenius v Luchanko. We won’t know how that will turn out for a couple of years, probably.
Either way, no one expected to get a 1C at pick 13 of the 2024 draft. If he’s a good 200 foot 3C, he will be OK and as good as #20 pick Laughts. That’s not a homerun, but it’s not a disaster.
Todd Shannon
All good points by Charlie. When I look at Jett’s potential I’m reminded of Patrick Sharp. Speed, high hockey IQ, 200 ft player. Sharp didn’t hit his stride until he was about 25 years old.
ifollowcharlieo
Patrick Sharp, eh? I hope you’re right. I do observe that Sharp received a lot of 1st and 2nd line time with players like Hossa and Toews. A lot would have to go very right with Luchanko’s game and very wrong with Briere’s other personnel for that to happen for Luchanko. Could happen, but I’m not going to put any money on it…
In any case, Travis Sanheim is the poster child for “Don’t give up too soon on a player”, so I’m patient.
MarioD
I significant portion of the pressure on Luchenko is the self-inflicted wound of this front office putting PR ahead of player development and trying to defend their pick by shoving Luchenko into the NHL that fall after he was drafted. If they’d simply been honest instead of the extremely mixed messages they sent that year people would be more patient with Luchenko’s development.
But they had to prove their own genius by making him the first in his draft class to play an NHL game, screwed up that year for him by dragging him around the NHL pressboxes for a month, and now, two seasons after he was “ready for the NHL” he’s going to spend the year in the AHL.
And none of that is the fault of the player.