The Philadelphia Flyers got a real education this spring. They snuck into the playoffs, beat the Penguins, and then got swept by the eventual champion Hurricanes. That series wasn’t close. But it showed exactly what separates a good story from a championship team. General manager Daniel Briere has been watching closely, and with the draft here this week, he’s got some decisions to make.
You don’t have to blow things up like Florida and Ottawa just did — swapping Brady Tkachuk for a pile of picks was wild — but you do have to make moves. The Flyers have a piece that might bring back something interesting: winger Owen Tippett.
Tippett’s value is real
Tippett has quietly become a reliable scorer. He’s put up 22-plus goals in each of the last four seasons, and last year he hit a career-best 28. At 6-foot-1 and 210 pounds, he’s a load around the net. You park him in front, and he’s not easy to move. That’s the kind of presence teams need in the playoffs, which is why the Oilers should be interested.
Edmonton has McDavid and Draisaitl, obviously. But they need guys who can finish chances on a regular basis, not just in bursts. Tippett fits that description. He’s a first- or second-line player who can take pressure off the stars.
What the Flyers would need back
If you’re dealing a reliable scorer like Tippett, you want a known quantity in return. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has been in Edmonton for 15 years. He was the No. 1 pick in 2011. He never became a superstar, but he’s been a steady, productive player at center or wing. He’s 33, which means he’s not ancient but he’s not young either. He’s got a few good years left.
What he would bring to Philly is playoff experience and maturity. The Flyers want to get back to the postseason and compete. Nugent-Hopkins has been through battles in the Western Conference. He knows what it takes to play in tight games.
A change of scenery could help him too
There’s something to be said for getting out of a familiar role. Nugent-Hopkins has been a second- or third-line guy behind McDavid and Draisaitl for years. He’s respected and reliable, but you have to wonder if a new situation might unlock something. Playing for Rick Tocchet, facing Eastern Conference opponents he doesn’t see often, could give him a spark.
His best season was 2022-23 when he put up 37 goals and 104 points. That probably won’t happen again. But 65 to 75 points with a big role on the power play? That’s realistic. And that would be a significant upgrade for the Flyers.
A trade of Tippett for Nugent-Hopkins isn’t flashy. It doesn’t make headlines like a Tkachuk blockbuster. But it’s the kind of swap that makes both teams better in different ways. Sometimes that’s the best move you can make.
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