If the Montreal Canadiens miss out on Dylan Larkin, one name that could make more sense than Travis Konecny is Owen Tippett.
That was Marco D'Amico's view on his show, where he pointed to the Philadelphia Flyers winger as the better fit if Montreal has to pivot away from Larkin. The comparison is an interesting one, because both Flyers forwards have been floated as possible answers, but D'Amico leaned toward the younger, cheaper option.
Tippett, 27, has one goal and one assist through his first nine games of the season. He also carries a -2 rating and a $6.2 million cap hit. Konecny, 29, has three assists in five games and a -4 rating, with an annual cap hit of $8.75 million.
D'Amico also brought Michael Hage into the conversation, noting that the Canadiens prospect could join the team in April. In his view, Hage could be an especially intriguing fit next to a finisher like Tippett.
The logic is pretty simple: Tippett may not have had the chance to skate with a center as gifted as Nick Suzuki, and maybe not even someone with Hage's upside. That kind of setup, D'Amico suggested, could unlock more from the winger.
There’s also the contract side of it. Tippett's deal gives Montreal more breathing room, while Konecny's price tag is $2.55 million higher. Add in Konecny's injury, and the uncertainty only grows.
Montreal sits at 4-3-1 and could use more punch on the second line. A winger with scoring touch would fit the bill, and Tippett checks a lot of boxes there.
Still, the whole picture hangs on Larkin. If he ends up in Montreal, the Canadiens may not need to chase the Flyers’ options at all, and Hage should stay out of trade discussions.
As D'Amico put it: "And if the Canadiens aren't able to go and get a Dylan Larkin, I mean, Michael Hage comes into this team in April. That's a player that'd be very interesting because that's a finisher right there.
I don't think he's played with a center as talented as Nick Suzuki or what Michael Hage could become in his career, right? I think, at least in his NHL career.
I don't think that this is a player that has maxed out. [...]
If I had to target a player from the Philadelphia Flyers, it would be Tippett over Konecny."
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Rakell still carries a $5 million cap hit, and his slow start has only added to the intrigue around what kind of return Pittsburgh might eventually consider. For Montreal, the appeal is obvious enough: if Hughes decides the fit still makes sense, Rakell could give the second line a different look even with the original deal structure gone, leaving open the possibility of a separate swing later on. [Read more 🡒]