Lukowich scored 8 goals and a team high 15 points en route to capturing the final WHA championship, the Avco Cup.

Under the NHL's admittance terms, these teams could only protect a fraction of their roster, and Lukowich was one of the few players Winnipeg managed to retain.

The early NHL years were difficult for the Jets, but Lukowich quickly emerged as the team's star, and he was appointed Winnipeg's captain for the 1980–81 season.

He was invited to the NHL All Star game for the second year in a row, playing on a line with Mike Bossy and Bryan Trottier.

Lukowich represented Canada at the 1993 Spengler Cup Tournament, and briefly re-emerged as an inline hockey player in 1994, playing several games with RHI's Calgary Rad'z.