Story by
Flyers have two key forwards healthy as training camp gets underway
- Story by
- Flyers have two key forwards healthy as training camp gets underway
Flyers have two key forwards healthy as training camp gets underway originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
VOORHEES, N.J. — Owen Tippett had a difficult time watching.
That was all he could do as the Flyers ' playoff run last season came to an end with a second-round sweep at the hands of the Hurricanes . Tippett had an internal bleeding issue and was also dealing with a sports hernia injury.
Advertisement
The 27-year-old winger missed all four games against Carolina because of the internal bleeding.
"I think I had the hardest time with the timing of it all," Tippett said Thursday as 2026 training camp kicked off. "It was something that I couldn't really mess around with and needed to take the time that it needed. It couldn't have been worse timing. Never want to sit out, let alone in the playoffs.
"It is what it is, but there's one thing you learn, there are some things that you can't really control and there's also life after hockey that you've got to look after. It was unfortunate with the timing and everything, but I'm glad I took the time that I needed and everything's good now."
Tippett, who needed surgery this offseason for the sports hernia injury, said he's 100 percent healthy. He joined Noah Cates in that regard. The 27-year-old center missed the final two games against the Hurricanes because of a lower-body injury , presumably to his foot. Cates did not need surgery.
Advertisement
"I'm feeling 100 percent," he said. "Tough timing, missing a couple of playoff games to battle with the guys there at the end. But then you have plenty of time, a couple of months to do what you need to do, so I took some extra time off the ice. But when I got back on there, I felt 100 percent. Basically had a full, normal summer. No complaints, no restrictions and it feels 100 percent now."
Cates, who is considered the club's top defensive forward, knows how much the Flyers missed Tippett's explosiveness offensively.
"We were watching some video today, the elements he brings, his speed, his skill, it really pushes teams back," Cates said. "When you're talking about breakouts and some other things with our offensive-zone pressure, forechecking, whatever it is, he brings elements that you can't teach. It's that speed and skill that not too many guys in this league have."
The Flyers managed to score just five goals in four games against Carolina. The Hurricanes were a force, going 16-3 over the playoffs en route to the Stanley Cup title. They surrendered just 2.05 goals per game.
Tippett led the Flyers with 28 goals last season in 81 games. He put up a pair of hat tricks, three shorthanded goals and 51 points. The Flyers will need him to be just as good, if not better, if they want to make the playoffs in consecutive years and go on a deeper run.
Advertisement
"You add him and some different things with our team, we feel like we're right there with anyone in this league," Cates said. "But it's not just going to happen. We've got to work, we've got to execute and be ready every day. Come Game 1, we've got to be ready. This longer season, as well , it's just going to be harder with the expectations and teams being ready for us.
"But having everyone and the depth that we have throughout this organization, you can see it with the preseason, the rookie camp, all these guys are ready to go. There's a really good culture being built here."
