Jett Luchanko’s camp got its wish. And the Philadelphia Flyers are probably thrilled, too.
According to a league source, Luchanko, the Flyers’ first-round pick (No. 13) in the 2024 NHL draft, has been traded from the Guelph Strom in the OHL to the Brantford Bulldogs, for 17-year-old forward Layne Gallacher and multiple draft picks. Daily Faceoff’s Jeff Marek was the first to report the deal.
The trade was widely expected after Guelph was awarded the 2027 Memorial Cup on Nov. 20. Luchanko, 19, will be able to turn pro next season.
Brantford was the preferred landing spot for Luchanko, according to a league source. The Bulldogs are coached by Jay McKee, who is close with Flyers general manager Daniel Briere, and who also interviewed for the vacant head coaching job over the summer that ultimately went to Rick Tocchet.
For the past two seasons, Luchanko made the Flyers’ opening-night roster, only to be quickly reassigned back to Guelph. In eight NHL games — four each season — Luchanko has not recorded a point, with four penalty minutes and a minus-6 rating.
Luchanko joined the AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms late last season, posting nine assists in 16 combined regular-season and playoff games.
Guelph’s being one of the OHL’s poorer teams for the past two seasons contributed to the Flyers keeping Luchanko around early, in order for him to practice with NHL players and train with their pro staff. The Storm finished in last place in their conference last season, and are currently in seventh place this season with a 11-11-2-0 mark. Brantford, conversely, sits in first place in the Eastern Conference and has yet to lose a game in regulation this season at 18-0-4-1.
In 11 games with Guelph since he was reassigned by the Flyers on Oct. 27, Luchanko had two goals and 15 assists for 17 points. Luchanko is also expected to be on Team Canada for the upcoming World Junior Championship for the second straight year.
This move positions Brantford as one of the deepest teams in recent CHL history.
Brantford now has two top picks — Luchanko and Seattle’s Jake O’Brien — as their top two centers, and can continue to slot in Caleb Malhotra, one of the top prospects in the 2026 draft class, as their 3C. Blackhawks first-rounder Marek Vanacker, O’Brien’s longtime linemate, should continue playing with him, but it’s possible the team could move Minnesota Wild prospect Adam Benak to play with Luchanko (Benak can also play center in a pinch), keeping Michigan commit Cooper Dennis with Malhotra.
The forward group is supported by a defense that has added (via trade) Toronto Maple Leafs first-rounder Ben Danford and overage player Zackary Sandhu to a group that already had first-rounder Adam Jiricek, breakout Montreal Canadiens prospect Owen Protz, Winnipeg Jets prospect Edison Engle and 2026 prospect Vladimir Dravecky, as well as two goalies who should be starters in the OHL.
