Blues 2024 NHL Draft Target: Jett Luchanko
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With the 2024 NHL Draft approaching, it's time to look at some prospects that may be available to the St. Louis Blues with their first round pick. Now, as reported by fellow St. Louis Site Editor Lou Korac, the team could move up or down with the pick. Or, trade the pick for a young roster player, or make the pick.
However, since St. Louis still has hold of pick No. 16 in the NHL Entry Draft, we’re going to spend every day leading up to June 28, looking at prospects who may be available and of interest to Doug Armstrong and his scouting team.
So far, we’ve covered OHL’s Liam Greentree, the next Norwegian star Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, Czech defenseman Adam Jiricek, and offensive defenseman Carter Yakemchuk
Today, we’re profiling another prospect coming out of the OHL, Jett Luchanko from the Guelph Storm. Luchanko could be seen as a reach at No. 16 for St. Louis, but the highly competitive centerman has been moving up in the draft rankings all year long, and his play at the U18 World Championship was a statement performance.
THN's draft preview magazine had the 5-foot-11, 183-pound center as a late first-rounder at No. 29 and THN’s scouting expert Tony Ferrari had him one spot lower.
However, TSN’s Director of Scouting and former NHL GM Craig Button had him as the 18th best prospect in his final rankings, and his colleague at TSN Bob McKenzie had him at No. 19.
As per Bob McKenzie via his final rankings list, it sounds like Luchanko’s name has generated a lot of buzz within the last week. Several scouts have told him that they feel he’s picking up momentum and it sounds like he could go higher on Day 1 of the draft than many originally thought.
After all, he did mention at the NHL Draft Combine in Buffalo earlier this month that he had interviewed with 28 teams at the event.
*No. 7 in Maroon and White
It’s not a complete surprise. We had the opportunity to speak with Luchanko at the combine and the young man already speaks like a seasoned NHL pro.
“I’m the type of person who focuses on the day-to-day and believe good things come from that,” said Luchanko. “I think it only makes you a better player when you do the little things right. I’ve always been one of those players who takes pride in being responsible and it’s something I’ve worked on.”
Luchanko is a phenomenal athlete as well. Earlier this year, he finished in the top five of six different on-ice tests at the CHL Top Prospects Game. And was a standout in the off-ice fitness tests at the draft combine, finishing first place in three events and top 25 in nine others.
Luchanko won gold with Team Canada at the U18 World Championship. In the gold medal game against a loaded Team USA, he was tasked to defend their top players and took advantage of the opportunity to showcase his excellent two-way playstyle. “I felt confident in that role,” said Luchanko.
Jett is a terrific two-way centerman who handled playing against the opposing team’s best players exceptionally well all season long. He’s an intelligent player who quickly identifies where he needs to put himself defensively and reads the play at a fast pace without the puck.
While playing his shutdown role, he still had a productive season with 74 points and 54 assists and did not miss a single game. His 30 powerplay assists were tied for second in the OHL. Also, he added five assists and seven points in seven games at the U18s.
Luchanko doesn’t turn 18 until Aug. 21, yet his maturity is already impressive. He likes to model his game after fellow London, Ontario native Nick Suzuki, which is apparent in his play on the ice. He’s competitively driven, hounds for pucks on the forecheck, and has the exuberant energy of a depth role player on a Championship-caliber team.
There’s also a bit of Blues center Robert Thomas in his game. McKeen’s Hockey Director of Scouting Brock Otten had this to say on his skating, “Luchanko is a high-end skater, he is lightning quick. He picks his spots to showcase his speed and alters his pace extremely well, delaying to allow teammates to catch up in transition.”
Luchanko is adept at weaving his way through the neutral zone with the puck to gain the offensive zone for his team. Furthermore, he’s a solid playmaker who regularly finds his teammate’s tape in the offensive zone to set them up.
The question marks to this 2024 draft prospect are that he doesn’t have the high-end puck skills of a Liam Greentree, or the size, and he can be far too reliant on his passing to create offense, sacrificing opportunities to shoot.
Despite those concerns, Jett Luchanko demonstrates the habits of a pro, and it would be surprising if he does not at least secure a role in the NHL as a reliable bottom six center who can kill penalties.
On the other hand, his potential ceiling is that of a second line center.