VOORHEES, N.J. – Jett Luchanko broke into the NHL last season at the age of 18 with a brief four-game trial.
This year he’s hoping to make it 40.
Or more.
The Flyers forward opened some eyes with his feats of derring-do. He probably could have stuck around longer if not for a rule that a first-year rookie can only play a total of nine games and then he either goes back to junior or has to stay with his NHL team the rest of the season.
So the London, Ontario native returned to his Guelph (OHL) club and played well, registering 56 points in 46 games.
Just two days into the current training camp, Luchanko looks fully recovered from a lingering groin injury from last season and ready to go.
Hard to believe he just turned 19 a month ago.
The week or two he spent with the Flyers was a good learning experience and should make the transition a bit easier going into this season.
“Last year was kind of cool to see everyone for the first time,” he said after Friday’s training camp session at the Flyers Training Center. “This year is still some of that but I’ve seen them before. Kind of just getting to work.”
Just being on the ice for opening night last season had to be a bit of a confidence-booster.
“I think there were a lot of things to learn from that,” he said. “I saw how hard everyone works. Just try to emulate that myself. Follow their habits on the ice and off the ice.”
Luchanko said he’s been working on his shot. “Hopefully I’m a little bit better at everything,” he said. “Taking time after practice, asking questions. Working on different things with my stick.”
The Flyers did hold Luchanko out of last weekend’s Rookie Series against the Rangers as a precautionary measure.
“I was training here,” Luchanko explained. “Which is always good. Work with the best (trainers) here.”
>Zegras back at center
Trevor Zegras had played center since he was a kid but the Anaheim Ducks moved him to wing last season.
Then they moved him to the Flyers when the season was over.
Now it looks like the Flyers will move him back to center again, which is his natural position.
“I think starting in the middle is good,” Zegras said. “I feel more comfortable there. Coming through the ice with speed. I played center my whole hockey career up until last season. Definitely feel more comfortable through the middle of the ice.”
Having a coach like Rick Tocchet won’t hurt either. Tocchet has had Travis Konecny playing wing on Zegras’ line in camp.
“It (having Konecny) definitely helps,” the 24-year-old Zegras said with a grin. “I try to give it to him as much as I can. He’s very good.”
As for Tocchet, Zegras has been impressed.
“I feel like it’s pretty easy to trust a guy like that,” Zegras said. “I think the team is going to play kind of how he played. Try to form that identity. I think that is something we can all get behind, I’m sure.”
Tocchet indicated he’s going to give Zegras a long leash to be creative at center.
“They kind of want me there,” Zegras said. “They trust me there. It’s going to be some work for sure with the new coach and new team. Just some little things I’m going to have to work on. Definitely a great start for sure.”
Zegras was asked if he’s taken in any of the sights and sounds of Philly, including sports events.
“I hit ‘em all,” he said. “I went to the Bank (PNC), saw the Phillies play. It was sold out. Which is pretty crazy. The fans were going nuts. Obviously they’re an amazing team. A lot of fun to be in the building for that. We went to the home opener for the Eagles. Which is cool.”
After a couple down seasons, Zegras is looking to bounce back. Can he prove the doubters wrong?
“I really don’t feel like that,” he said. “It’s cool to have gone through the experience, take everything that you’ve learned from that, bring it here. . .my focus is completely on this team; how to make this team better. Grow together. I think it’s all positive.”
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