Owen Tippett
Flyers GM Chuck Fletcher held his end-of-season availability on Tuesday, first confirming that Mike Yeo would not be returning as head coach of the team. He also discussed the meaning of an “aggressive retool,” how youth factors into the future, and some injury updates.
The Ottawa Senators scored three times in the third period to hand the Flyers one final loss on the season by a score of 4-2, giving the Orange and Black a 25-46-11 record to finish the season.
Noah Cates scored two goals and Morgan Frost had the other in a 4-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins at Wells Fargo Center.
A three-goal second period featured goals by Owen Tippett and Noah Cates, as the Flyers secured a 4-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Kevin Hayes scored in the third round of the shootout and Martin Jones capped off a strong game with a save on Filip Chytil to secure the Flyers first shootout win of the season, a 4-3 decision over the New York Rangers.
The final 15 games for the Flyers will serve as a chance to evaluate. They will provide a look at some new faces entering the lineup in the last couple of weeks and maybe even a new face or two to come down the road. It is a way to take inventory going into the offseason – what does the team already have and what does it need even more of on the roster moving forward?
Travis Konecny had a pair of goals, but Hayden Hodgson stole the show in his NHL debut with a goal and an assist, as the Flyers snapped the streak against the Blues with a 5-2 win.
As the trade deadline passes and the Flyers open up a few roster spots, it presents more of an opportunity for younger players to get more of a look at increased roles in the NHL. GM Chuck Fletcher used Sunday’s game as an example of what he hopes to see for the rest of the season, “energy, hard work, young players playing a bigger role and getting an opportunity to show what they can do for next year.”
The guys discuss Claude Giroux’s 1,000th NHL and the Flyers trading the captain to the Florida Panthers two days prior to the deadline. They also look at deadline day deals for Justin Braun and Derick Brassard, as well as break down the team going forward with the addition of Owen Tippett.
It’s not about whether Owen Tippett has the ability in him. That’s what got him drafted 10th overall in the 2017 NHL Draft. It’s about if he can consistently have noticeable performances like the one in his Flyers debut on Sunday, especially if the opportunity for ice time and an increased role is there.
