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Jett Luchanko's new goal: Convince the Flyers to keep him all season long

October 7, 2024

Sep 22, 2024; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Capitals goaltender Clay Stevenson (33) prepares to make a save on Philadelphia Flyers forward Jett Luchanko (17) Capitals forward Trevor van Riemsdyk (57) defends in the second period at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Just how unlikely was Jett Luchanko's rise from training camp curiosity to opening night starter?
Veteran defenseman Erik Johnson put it in perspective.
"I was looking up his birthday the other day just because I was curious, and he wasn't even born when I was drafted," he pointed out.
That's right -- Johnson was drafted first overall on June 24, 2006, while Luchanko was born two months later on August 21. Now, they're teammates, with Johnson at age 37 and Luchanko making the big club just seven weeks after turning 18.
"It’s been my end goal since I remember, making the NHL," Luchanko said with a smile on Monday after the Philadelphia Flyers officially announced their start-of-season roster ...