The Philadelphia Flyers’ 0-5-2 start has already kicked up the kind of noise that turns every rough patch into trade chatter, and that’s where the Edmonton Oilers enter the conversation. If the Flyers’ early slide keeps going, the question becomes whether Daniel Briere eventually decides to shake things up - and whether Edmonton tries to take advantage.
One name that has surfaced in the chatter is Owen Tippett. The speedy winger has six years left on his deal at $6.2 million per season, and social media talk has pushed him into the spotlight as a possible fit for the Oilers. But not everyone in Oilers Nation is on board with that idea.
Some fans would rather Edmonton swing bigger. Travis Konecny has been floated as a more attractive target, while others would go even further and chase Matvei Michkov, believing he’s being used in an awkward role in Philadelphia and offers more upside.
The fit, though, isn’t simple. The Oilers don’t have much extra cap space to work with, and they’re also in a pretty good spot on the ice despite the injuries they’ve been dealing with.
Edmonton is the only team that hasn’t lost in regulation this season, and it has done that without Zach Hyman, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Matt Savoie. Hyman is set to return Tuesday against the Los Angeles Kings.
There’s also the longer view to consider. One fan raised the possibility that a contract like Tippett’s could make it harder for Edmonton to re-sign Connor McDavid. And with the emergence of Vasily Podkolins, the argument from some fans is that the real needs are lower in the lineup and in goal, not on the wing.
Even if the Oilers wanted to act, the price could be another issue. Skeptics pointed out that Edmonton may not have the kind of return Philadelphia would want, with one fan suggesting a package centered on prospects might be the best the Oilers could put together. That creates another problem, since Edmonton would likely need to move money out if it were taking money back.
So this remains more rumor than reality for now. The Flyers are still looking for their first win in regulation, and the Oilers are still sorting through what they actually need once everyone is healthy. For now, the connection is just part of the trade-market buzz, but it’s the kind of buzz that can linger if Philadelphia’s season keeps spiraling and Stan Bowman gets a clearer read on his roster.
In Other News...
Flyers Early Skid Is Already Raising Bigger Questions About This Roster
Seven games into the season, the Flyers are already facing the kind of early turbulence that can change the conversation around a roster fast. Their latest loss came against the Carolina Hurricanes, extending a rough start that has left Philadelphia searching for any kind of rhythm or consistency while the goals and results keep piling up in the wrong direction.
The numbers have been hard to ignore, with the club struggling to finish chances and get much going on special teams, and coach Rick Tocchet has been blunt about the need for patience and improvement. Players are saying the right things about sticking with it, but the bigger question now is whether this is simply an ugly opening stretch or a sign of deeper problems that this group has to sort out before the hole gets much harder to climb out of. [Read more 🡒]
Flyers Frustration With Rick Tocchet Just Reached Another Level
The early-season spiral in Philadelphia kept getting uglier in Raleigh, where the Flyers dropped a 4-1 decision to the Carolina Hurricanes and saw another lineup experiment go sideways. Prospect defenseman Oliver Bonk was elevated to the top defensive pairing and had a rough night, a move that only added to the sense that the team is searching for answers in real time as the losses pile up and the frustration grows louder.
Rick Tocchets decisions are now under a harsher spotlight because the results have left so little room for patience. With the offense sputtering, the defense unsettled and the group still waiting for a clean response, the Flyers look stuck between development and damage control, and the bigger concern is that the season is already drifting in a direction no one around the team can afford to ignore. [Read more 🡒]
Flyers Coaching Speculation Just Got More Frustrating After 0-7 Start
Seven straight losses have put the Flyers in an ugly early-season hole, and the frustration around the team has already started to spill into familiar territory. When a club opens this way, the first place fans often look is behind the bench, and John Tortorellas name has been central to the speculation as Philadelphia searches for any sign of a reset.
For now, though, the noise may be louder than the reality. Reports from Sportsnets Elliotte Friedman suggest a coaching change is not considered likely at this moment, which leaves the Flyers in the awkward spot of being mired near the bottom of the standings without an obvious short-term fix. NHL history has plenty of unusual midseason moves, but this one appears headed toward patience for the time being, with the bigger question centered on how long the team can ride out the slump before something more dramatic becomes unavoidable. [Read more 🡒]