Would the Flyers Actually Trade Owen Tippett?

The Philadelphia Flyers are loaded with talent on the wing, including 26-year-old forward Owen Tippett. Wing is, without a thought, the position that the Flyers have the most depth at, including plenty of top-six options.

Recently, Dave Pagnotta of The Fourth Period reported that teams could begin inquiring about Tippett’s availability in the near future.

Pagnotta would go on to say that he believes the Flyers would listen to what teams have to offer.

Personally, I would not put a lot of stock into many, if any, early-to-mid October trade rumors. However, it doesn’t mean that it’s not possible. Even if the rumors are purely speculation, it does not mean there isn’t plenty of pressure on Tippett.

Tippett is in year two of an eight-year deal worth $6.2 million annually, with modified trade protection that kicks in next July. The Flyers have plenty of talent on the wing. Matvei Michkov and Travis Konecny each have their positions in the top six secured. Tyson Foerster is certainly playing like a top-six winger, and his line is even performing like a top unit. With what the Flyers have in the pipeline, Tippett could be the odd man out of the top six and even the top nine.

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Pressure From Within

As of now, Tippett is on the Flyers’ second/third line with Christian Dvorak and Trevor Zegras. For now, that spot is safe, but it does not mean the pressure is not coming.

Starting at the bottom of the lineup, Nikita Grebenkin has arrived in Philadelphia and has been just as advertised. Grebenkin plays fast, strong, and aggressively. He is a puck possession monster and would be a real asset to a top-six line. You can see, especially late in games, the Flyers finding a place for Grebenkin to get meaningful minutes. The youngster is putting the pressure on, and if he keeps it up, he may be closer in the rearview than some may think.

Grebenkin may not be the only player on the roster pressing for top-six minutes. Jett Luchanko won’t stay in Philadelphia to sit in the pressbox, nor will he stay to be the 4C. If he sticks around, the Flyers will have to find a role for him as well. With Sean Couturier and Noah Cates dominating down the middle, they are safe, which leaves the Dvorak/Zegras rotation as the only spot Luchanko could take.

The only way to keep Luchanko at center and move up in the lineup would be to move Trevor Zegras to the wing and Dvorak to 4C. That would again add another winger into the mix, pressuring Tippett.

Pressure From the Pipeline

Looking in the grand scheme of things, even the Flyers’ pipeline is loaded at wing.

A guy who could make an immediate impact is Alex Bump, who was fighting for a roster spot all camp. While he certainly needed more time in the AHL before being NHL-ready, Bump is not far. He possesses the sort of talent that should not be buried on the fourth line. There are other guys like Denver Barkey, Alexis Gendron, and Jacob Gacher in the AHL who had solid camps as well.

There is no bigger pressure on Tippett than Porter Martone. Martone could have very well played in the NHL this season, but opted for a year of seasoning in East Lansing. It is more likely than not that he’ll be in the NHL next season, and the Flyers would not play him any lower than the third line, but most likely second.

There is pressure on all of the Flyers’ wings, not just specifically Tippett, from both the active players and players in the system.

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Would the Flyers Actually Trade Tippett

If the Flyers are actually going to trade Tippett, it would be a lot easier before July 1st of 2026. But would they actually do it?

A trade makes sense on the Flyers’ half. Tippett’s value is still high, the team has a log jam on the wing, and could use a surplus player to fill a need.

With that, the opportunity to trade Tippett for a top-four defenseman, or even if he was used in a package for a legitimate 1C, would make sense. However, I don’t see the Flyers trading Tippett for the sake of trading him. It would have to be a trade that fills a big need for the team.

One thing to keep in mind is that it’s October. Trade rumors this time of year are to always be taken with a grain of salt. Just because Tippett’s name is being mentioned now does not mean he’ll be traded. Everything depends on how he and the team are playing as the season progresses.

Do you think Tippett will be traded?

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