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Philadelphia Flyers GM Danny Briere facing major backlash for his comments on top pick Jett Luchanko

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Samer Dagher
September 2, 2024 (4:18 PM)

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Jett Luchanko getting drafted by GM Danny Briere and the Philadelphia Flyers

Photo credit: PhillyVoice

Philadelphia Flyers general manager Danny Briere is facing criticism for his comments on Jett Luchanko, the team's 2024 first-round draft pick.

The Flyers have struggled in recent years, making only one playoff appearance in the last five seasons. In response, the team has committed to a full rebuild, emphasizing their dedication to what they call "a new era of Orange."

"The Philadelphia Flyers organization was built on relentless ambition and loyalty to this city. When you're playing for Philadelphia, you're playing to win and you're giving it your all. That's the bottom line, because when you represent this city, nothing less is acceptable. That extends beyond the ice, too. It's about character, sacrifice, integrity, and most importantly, resilience in every single thing we do.

When you don the Orange and Black, you're held to a specific set of standards, and you're expected to show up and work your a** off. Every. Single. Day. It's about doing things the right way. No excuses. No shortcuts.

This is a new era of hockey, and we're building a new foundation for the future. New ways to work, new ways to train, and new ways to win. We have new voices, new perspectives, and new plans, but this is still Flyers hockey, so the goal remains the same: Win.

Welcome to a new era of Orange."

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Briere recently made headlines for his remarks about Jett Luchanko, the young center-forward selected 13th overall in the draft. Briere expressed excitement about drafting Luchanko, comparing him to Montreal Canadiens forward Nick Suzuki, saying:

"He reminds me a lot of Nick Suzuki. He's not the biggest, but he's very effective in all facets of the game. If he becomes half of Suzuki, we'll be happy. We were able to get a third-round pick that we were able to use to advance to the second round to draft defenseman Spencer Gill, from Rimouski, 59th overall, another one that our scouts had ranked in the first round. That gives us Luchanko and Gill rather than one player at No. 12."

While the comparison isn't far-fetched, as both players are 5'11" center-forwards, many fans felt Briere's expectations were too low. Nick Suzuki, who just had a career-best season with 33 goals and 44 assists in 82 games, is a high bar for comparison. Fans argue that expecting only half of Suzuki's production from an early first-round pick like Luchanko is setting the bar too low.

Jett Luchanko is just 18 years old, and while Suzuki is seven years older, fans worry that if Luchanko only achieves half of what Suzuki has, it could spell trouble for the Flyers. Briere's comments have left some questioning the team's approach as they enter this "new era of Orange."

Source: La PressePhiladelphia Flyers Daniel Brière, the general manager of the... and the bold: "We preferred the centre"

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POLL
2 SEPTEMBRE \| 132 ANSWERS Philadelphia Flyers GM Danny Briere facing major backlash for his comments on top pick Jett Luchanko Who will have a better NHL career, Nick Suzuki, or Jett Luchanko?
Nick Suzuki	109	82.6 %
Jett Luchanko	7	5.3 %
About the same	16	12.1 %
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