Oilers Should Target Owen Tippett if Flyers Land Leo Carlsson

The Edmonton Oilers have made it clear this offseason that adding a legitimate top-six right winger remains one of the organization’s final priorities. After reshaping their blue line and stabilizing their goaltending, the forward group still lacks another game-breaking winger who can consistently keep pace with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.

If the Philadelphia Flyers successfully land Leo Carlsson on an $18 million offer sheet that Anaheim declines to match, Philadelphia’s salary cap picture suddenly becomes extremely complicated. With roughly $12 million in projected cap space remaining after the offer sheet, the Flyers would still need new contracts for Trevor Zegras and Jamie Drysdale while navigating one of the NHL’s most expensive young cores.

That could force general manager Daniel Briere into moving salary, and two names that would immediately attract interest around the league are Travis Konecny and Owen Tippett. While Konecny is the bigger name, the Oilers should prioritize Tippett.

Speed Makes Tippett an Ideal McDavid Winger

One statistic immediately jumps off the page. According to NHL EDGE tracking, Tippett reached a maximum skating speed of 24.21 mph in 2024, making him one of the fastest players in hockey. There may not be another superstar who benefits more from elite speed than McDavid.

For years, Edmonton has searched for someone who can actually keep up with McDavid through the neutral zone. Few players possess that ability. Tippett not only keeps pace but attacks defenders with similar north-south explosiveness.

Unlike many speedsters, Tippett combines that skating ability with one of the hardest releases in the league. His heavy wrist shot allows him to score from distance, something that would complement McDavid’s playmaking perfectly.

Imagine McDavid creating space off the rush before finding Tippett flying down the right wing. It would create a completely different dynamic than Edmonton has had since the departure of Zach Hyman from that line.

The Numbers Show Tippett is Still Ascending

Since arriving in Philadelphia, Tippett has steadily developed into one of the Flyers’ most dangerous offensive weapons. Across 428 career NHL games, he has recorded 121 goals, 115 assists, and 236 points while averaging 0.55 points per game. More importantly, nearly all of that production has come since joining the Flyers, where he has been given the opportunity to grow into a true top-six winger. In his last four seasons with Philadelphia, Tippett has produced 107 goals and 203 points in just 334 games, showing consistent year-over-year improvement despite playing on a rebuilding team.

His goal-scoring ability has become especially impressive. Tippett broke out with a 28-goal campaign in 2023-24 and followed it up with another 28-goal season in 2025-26, proving his first breakout wasn’t a one-year anomaly. Considering Philadelphia has ranked among the league’s lower-scoring teams during that stretch, it’s fair to wonder how much more productive Tippett could become playing alongside elite playmakers like McDavid or Draisaitl in Edmonton.

One of the most encouraging trends is his shot generation. Tippett fired 289 shots in 2023-24, followed by 188 and 220 over the next two seasons. Very few wingers outside the NHL’s elite consistently generate well over 200 shots in a season, and that willingness to shoot is exactly what the Oilers need. McDavid has always thrived alongside linemates who attack open ice and aren’t afraid to pull the trigger, making Tippett’s shoot-first mentality an ideal stylistic fit for Edmonton’s high-powered offense. 200 shots annually. Playing with McDavid could easily push Tippett beyond the 35-goal mark.

Konecny Brings Proven Production

None of this is meant to take away from what Konecny brings to the table. The veteran has quietly established himself as one of the NHL’s most consistent offensive players, recording 225 goals and 544 points in 723 career games. He has evolved into Philadelphia’s offensive leader, capable of driving play at even strength while contributing on both special teams. His competitiveness, physical edge, and ability to produce against top competition make him an attractive option for any team looking to bolster its top six.

His offensive production over the past three seasons further highlights that consistency. Konecny scored 33 goals and 68 points in 2023-24 before following it up with a career-best 76-point campaign in 2024-25. Last season, he once again eclipsed the 60-point mark with 28 goals and 64 points, proving his offensive output wasn’t a one-year spike. If the Oilers are looking for the more established and polished player today, Konecny certainly has the stronger resume, even if Tippett may offer greater long-term upside.

His 0.75 career points-per-game average is comfortably ahead of Tippett’s 0.55. Konecny is also the more complete player defensively and plays with an edge that coaches love. At 5-on-5 he consistently drives possession while producing offense against top competition. If Edmonton simply wanted the better overall player today, Konecny probably gets the nod.

Age and Contract Make Tippett More Attractive

Where the comparison really begins to favor Tippett is in his age and long-term value. Konecny is entering his age-29 season and has already established himself as one of the Flyers’ top offensive players, while Tippett is just 27 and appears to be entering the prime years of his career. That two-year age gap may not seem significant at first glance, but for an Oilers team looking to maximize McDavid’s championship window over the next several seasons, it becomes an important factor.

Tippett has already produced back-to-back 28-goal campaigns despite spending those seasons on a rebuilding Flyers team that lacks the elite offensive talent Edmonton possesses. Surrounded by playmakers like McDavid and Draisaitl, it’s reasonable to believe he still has another level to reach offensively. His combination of elite skating speed, heavy shot, and improving finishing ability suggests his ceiling may not have been reached yet.

Konecny remains the more accomplished player today and would immediately strengthen Edmonton’s top six, but there’s a strong argument that what we’ve seen is close to his offensive peak. If the Oilers are going to part with premium assets in a blockbuster trade, targeting the younger player with greater long-term upside is the smarter investment. Tippett offers not only immediate scoring help but also the potential to develop into an even more dangerous offensive weapon over the life of his contract.

The Flyers Could Be Forced Into Tough Decisions

An $18 million Carlsson contract would dramatically reshape Philadelphia’s salary structure. Even with nearly $30 million in cap space entering the offseason, Carlsson would consume most of that flexibility. The Flyers would still have significant negotiations remaining with Zegras and Drysdale.

If those two combine for roughly $15-17 million annually, Philadelphia would quickly move from having abundant flexibility to needing additional cap space. Trading one high-priced winger becomes a logical solution. Tippett and Konecny would almost certainly generate significant interest around the league.

For Philadelphia, moving one contract could allow them to keep their young core intact while recovering valuable assets after surrendering four first-round picks in the Carlsson offer sheet.

Why Edmonton Should Aggressively Pursue Tippett

The Oilers don’t necessarily need another playmaker with McDavid and Draisaitl already generating offense at an elite level. What Edmonton lacks is a right winger who can match McDavid’s speed, consistently finish scoring chances, and attack off the rush with a shoot-first mentality. Those are all areas where Tippett excels. His straight-line speed is among the best in the NHL, and his powerful shot would make him an ideal complementary piece alongside the Oilers’ superstar centers.

Tippett is also entering the prime of his career and has already proven he can score, recording back-to-back 28-goal seasons without the benefit of playing alongside elite offensive talent. It’s not difficult to imagine those numbers climbing into the 35-to-40-goal range if he were skating with McDavid. While Konecny would undoubtedly improve Edmonton’s top six, Tippett’s combination of age, speed, and untapped offensive upside makes him the more intriguing fit.

If the Flyers are forced to shed salary after a successful Carlsson offer sheet, Oilers general manager Stan Bowman should make Tippett one of his top trade targets. Adding a player with his skill set could give Edmonton exactly what it has been searching for, a dynamic top-line winger capable of making one of the NHL’s most dangerous offenses even more explosive.