Flyers Have Surprising Plan For Jett Luchanko This Upcoming Season
Per The Athletic's Kevin Kurz, the plan right now is for Jett Luchanko to spend the full 2026-27 season with AHL Lehigh Valley rather than push for an extended look on Philadelphia's NHL roster.
Trevor Zegras, who spent time at the position late last season, is the one being handed the job in training camp instead.
A First-Rounder Getting Passed Over For Now
The decision is very interesting given Luchanko's pedigree.
Philadelphia selected him 13th overall in 2024, and he's already gotten brief NHL cameos in each of his first two professional seasons, appearing in four games both times before being sent back down.
He posted 43 points in 38 regular-season games in the OHL last year, and Phantoms head coach John Snowden has made clear the door isn't fully closed. "Where Jett plays this year is up to Jett," Snowden said in June. "I know he's going to prepare himself the best that he can because he's a very astute kid and he works his butt off to make sure he's ready for things."
Travis Sanheim seriously changed his perception as a 1st round pick – can Jett Luchanko do the same? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/dRBUYxjylE
— PHLY Flyers (@PHLY_Flyers) August 20, 2026
For now, though, the organizational plan is a full season of development in the AHL rather than another short NHL trial.
Zegras Gets First Crack Instead
Zegras' path to the job goes back to late last season.
Per Kurz, he wasn't ready to handle center full-time when he first arrived in Philadelphia, but a move to the position in early March changed the staff's evaluation. "The way it was explained to me is that Zegras wasn't ready to play the position right away, but after he was moved to center in early March, he did enough for the coaching staff to believe he can remain there, for the time being anyway," Kurz relayed.
"Whether he stays there, well, that will be up to him primarily, unless Daniel Briere goes out and finds another high-end center."
New @HockeyHStove Phantoms writer @RNJ_Media takes an in-depth look at Jett Luchanko entering his first full pro season.https://t.co/HzddByNhfY@AnthonyMingioni @ctherien6 @Haleytsimon @gibsongirl76 @PhansofPhilly @ToyotaPrinceton @carlscards
— Bill Meltzer (@billmeltzer) September 1, 2026
That last part is the real complication.
Briere spent the summer trying to solve the position, reportedly making a run at Adam Fantilli and other targets, without landing an upgrade. Behind Zegras, Philadelphia's center depth chart currently runs through Noah Cates, Christian Dvorak, and Sean Couturier, with Denver Barkey as another option if the staff wants to try him there.
With Luchanko ticketed for a full year in the minors and no external addition on the roster, Zegras' hold on the job may end up being less about winning a competition and more about simply being the best option Philadelphia has available.
