Owen Tippett reportedly signs eight-year deal with Flyers
The main piece of the Claude Giroux trade, Owen Tippett would have plenty to live up to. By no fault of his own, Flyers fans would end up comparing him to Giroux, in some way. It's safe to say that he has done that and more. At just 25 years old, Tippett is at the right age to give a long-term extension. And the Flyers agreed with that notion on Friday morning.
Sounds like Owen Tippett's new extension with #Flyers is 8 years x $6.2 million = $49.6 million. #LetsGoFlyers
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) January 26, 2024
When he first came to Philadelphia, Tippett seemed like the perfect candidate for a player who needed a change of scenery. There wasn't room for him with the Panthers, as he was blocked on the depth chart. Tippett came into the NHL as a player who possessed a lethal-type shot and was known for his speed.
Tippett would top out at just seven goals with the Panthers in his first season, followed by six the following year. As a first-round pick, those numbers weren't cutting it. Coming to Philadelphia, he had a better chance to find his way in the NHL with more room to play. And he has lived up to expectations since joining the Flyers. The speed has been evident almost every night as Tippett finds ways to make plays for himself out of nothing. And the scoring has come as well.
Posting a career-high 27 goals in his first full season with the Flyers last year, Tippett is on pace to break that once again. He has 18 goals in 46 games and is projected to reach the 30-goal mark for the first time in his career. Locking him up at this point seemed like a no-brainer. He would've been an RFA after the season. Now he will be in a Flyers uniform through the 2031-32 season, buying Philadelphia all of his RFA years.
Signing players to long-term deals can always be a risk. The Flyers, in a rebuild, have the opportunity to make those kind of choices. Determining who will be part of their next core was important. With the cap expected to skyrocket soon, there isn't as much concern in that regard either. But Owen Tippett will be one of those players the team is building around. He joins Joel Farabee and Travis Sanheim as the most recent players to sign on long-term with the Flyers.