While the Philadelphia Flyers have the bulk of their top prospects participating in development camp this week, there is one absence that is quite noticeable.
When the Flyers released their development camp roster over the weekend, they denoted that 2024 draft picks Jett Luchanko and Jack Berglund would not be participating in on-ice activities.
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After Monday’s first session, we have an explanation for both Berglund and Luchanko, though Luchanko’s is one to monitor going forward.
“Jack isn’t skating. He’s played a lot of hockey in the last season, played on four different teams and he put a lot of miles on, but he wanted to come, he wanted to be a leader,” Flyers director of player development Riley Armstrong said Monday.
As for Luchanko, the 2024 first-round pick is also resting, though doing so to manage an injury.
“Yeah, he had a little lower-body thing going on,” said Armstrong. “Should be back skating next week, and he’ll be ready for training camp.”
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Notably, Luchanko was held out of development camp for the same reason last year, and having the same issue again this year makes it a bit of a trend.
The Flyers are wisely playing it safe and holding Luchanko out again entirely this year, and that is especially important with the young speedster officially turning pro ahead of his first full pro season.
As of now, the expectation is for Luchanko to play at least one year with the AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms, though injuries can always throw a wrinkle in things, be it for Luchanko or someone else.
Because Luchanko only played 38 regular season games in the OHL last year, it is critical that the Flyers ensure their top center prospect does not lose any more development time to injuries or subsequent setbacks from those injuries.
Both he and Berglund will be given the opportunity to make the NHL roster out of training camp this fall.
