When Rick Tocchet was introduced as the Flyers’ new head coach in May, he talked about unleashing some of the talent on the team’s roster.
For many, Owen Tippett had to come right to mind.
So far, so good for the player-coach combination.
“He’s one of the guys since the new crew got in here, our coaching staff, that has been really attentive, I noticed that in camp,” Tocchet said Monday morning ahead of his team’s home game against the Kraken (7 p.m. ET/NBCSP). “Sometimes players, they get the information — ‘OK, we get it,’ they leave. But he hangs around, he has been asking a lot of questions. I think he’s emotionally invested in this year.”
After the Flyers beat the Wild, 2-1, in overtime last Saturday night, Tocchet called Tippett the team’s most dynamic play-driver so far. Through five games, the 26-year-old winger has three goals.
Sure, it’s only five games, but Tippett’s start has been a real promising one after he endured a down season in 2024-25. He finished with 20 goals, eight fewer than he had the previous season, and saw a 10-point drop from 53 to 43.
Last season, it took him 14 games to put up three goals. And this season, he already has a power play goal; he didn’t have any last season.
“I think whatever line I’ve put him on, he has really helped that line, he’s driving play,” Tocchet said. “He’s really an intelligent guy.”
Tippett’s game was on full display two nights ago.
“He’s the fastest skater ever,” Trevor Zegras said after the win over Minnesota. “It’s awesome. I’ve never played with a guy that has that much speed. He does some wild stuff sometimes. I think he did like a spin-o-rama in the third period. I was just like, ‘Oh my God.’ Somebody so big that skates that fast. It’s fun to watch.”
At the start of training camp, Tippett was eager to learn from Tocchet.
“He has played, he has seen the game from all angles, he has been around the league coaching for a while,” Tippett said last month. “I’m excited to continue to work with him and see what he challenges me with.”
Tocchet was asked if Tippett’s combination of speed and power reminded him of anyone. He likened Tippett’s strengths to Stars winger Mikko Rantanen.
“I don’t want to compare him, but if you watch Rantanen, I’ve been watching him this year, going through the neutral zone,” Tocchet said. “Powerful speed. If teams back out, he does those deep delays. If a team tries to stand up on him, he goes around them. You can do both those things, then you become those type of players.”