Rick Tocchet sees shades of Mikko Rantanen in Flyers’ Owen Tippett
Philadelphia Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet had high praise for Owen Tippett, saying his game can be close to what Dallas star winger Mikko Rantanen.
When you think of Owen Tippett’s career thus far as a member of the Philadelphia Flyers, there are a handful of highlights. There’s the end to end rush against Montreal where he blew by everyone and nearly scored the game-winning goal. And then there’s the razzle dazzle play against Dallas that had most of the league taking notice. But a lot of times the biggest question has been why can’t he play like that more often.
Well, according to Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet, Tippett has been standing out a bit more this year, and has seen his play somewhat resembling that of speedy and powerful star forward Mikko Rantanen of the Dallas Stars.
“I mean, he’s a big man,” Tocchet told the media after Monday’s optional skate. “I don’t want to compare him but if you watch Rantanen — I’ve been watching him this year — going through the neutral zone, powerful speed. If teams back out he does those deep delays, those are great offensively. And if a team tries to stand up on him he goes around them. When you can do those both of those things, then you become those type of players.”
Through five games this season Tippett has three goals and is still looking for his first assist. Some believe he’s passed up a few great scoring chances so far to try and set up someone else, but generally he’s been standing out among the forwards. He’s also seen his ice time in some contests increase, particularly against Carolina and Saturday night against Minnesota, the latter seeing him replacing Matvei Michkov on the Sean Couturier line along with Travis Konecny in the third period. Tippett has two games over 18 minutes of ice time so far and has been winning the trust of Tocchet early on.
Tocchet said recently he goes to guys he thinks are going during a game, and thus far Tippett has checked that box more than a few times.
“He’s taken charge, like whatever line I put him on, he’s really helped that line, he’s driving play,” Tocchet said. “He’s really an intelligent guy. I think there’s more net-front (presence), there’s the big guy around the net, I think he can get in there a little bit more. But off the rush and come up with loose pucks and creating, he’s excellent. Little things like the net front, I think he can stay there a little bit more somtimes I think there were a couple of options where if he stayed there he would’ve been there by himself. But that’ll come, that’ll come.”
What Tippett has done so far this Flyers season
Tippett’s speed is also one of the best in the league, but even he feels he can’t use it all the time. Instead he has to learn how pick his spots and not be a speed demon each and every shift.
“I think it’s timing,” Tocchet said. “Sometimes you kind of see what’s going on and then you take off. Sometimes if you go too quick you’ve overread the play. He sees his timing is good. He’s coming underneath just at the right time to get that puck instead of overshooting it. It’s too late, now he’s got to stop or get outside of the zone. I think his timing is good.”
Thus far Tippett ranks in the 96th percentile regarding skating speed with his maximum skating speed measured at 22.89 miles per hour. According to NHL Edge stats he’s in the 99th percentile for bursts of or greater than 22 miles an hour (six) and 18 bursts between 20 and 22 miles an hour (putting him in the league’s 95th percentile). He’s also hit between 18 to 20 miles an hour 40 times so far this season. By comparison Connor McDavid has four bursts over 22 miles an hour and just 17 bursts between 18 to 20 miles an hour in 2025-26.
In terms of first impressions, Tocchet feels Tippett is eager to learn, asking questions and listening to feedback. “He’s one of the guys since the new crew got in here, our coaching staff, he’s been really attentive. Like I’ve noticed that in camp. Or when you tell him something. Sometimes players they get the information and it’s, ‘Okay, we get it,’ and they leave. But he hangs around and he’s been asking a lot of questions. I think he’s emotionally invested in this year I’ve seen. I mean there’s a long way to go but I felt that he’s really emotionally invested in the group, in the team.”
So, with Tippett starting off the season in fine form, and at just over half the cap hit Rantanen has with Dallas, it’s a great start for the winger who had a season he’d like to forget last year. If you look at his three goals in five games some would predict he’s on pace for a 48-goal season. Nobody on the Flyers or watching the club would dread seeing that happen. But hopefully he’s more consistent and not as streaky as he’s been in the past. If Tocchet can take his game up a notch or two, then Tippett and the recent speculation of teams kicking the tires on him regarding a trade is probably going to die down quite a bit and quite quickly. Thus far he’s been a pleasant surprise.
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