Owen Tippett would look pretty good in a Chicago Blackhawks sweater. There's little reason to argue otherwise. The Philadelphia Flyers winger can score, plays with some physicality, and isn't afraid to fire the puck.
But would he look good enough to justify losing Frank Nazar?
That's the question Kyle Davidson needs to answer before getting too serious about a potential deal with Philadelphia.
The Blackhawks are reportedly searching for a bigger scoring winger, and Tippett checks just about every box. Chicago Sun-Times reporter Ben Pope recently identified him as a potential fit, although there's no confirmation the teams are negotiating a trade involving him.
Still, there's enough interest surrounding both organizations to make the possibility worth examining.
Owen Tippett makes sense for the Blackhawks, but at what price?
Tippett scored 28 goals last season and has reached 20 in four consecutive years. He's also recorded at least 100 hits in each of those seasons, including 166 last year.
Chicago could certainly use some of that.
At 27, Tippett isn't some aging veteran looking for one final contract. His eight-year, $49.6 million deal carries a $6.2 million annual cap hit, a reasonable figure for his production.
There's one problem. Philadelphia isn't obligated to trade him.
According to Anthony Di Marco of Daily Faceoff, the Flyers have shown interest in Nazar and Oliver Moore as they search for help at center.
Nazar is particularly intriguing to Philadelphia, but Chicago reportedly isn't looking to move him.
Good. It shouldn't be.
Blackhawks shouldn't sacrifice Frank Nazar for another scoring winger
Nazar is 22 and beginning a seven-year contract worth $46.2 million. Chicago has already committed to him as part of its future.
Trading him for Tippett would be a strange reversal, especially when the Blackhawks are still trying to establish their young core.
Moore presents another difficult decision. He recently signed a five-year extension, and moving him this quickly would raise questions about Chicago's evaluation of its own talent.
Neither player should be considered untouchable. But there's a difference between trading a promising youngster for a genuine superstar and moving one for a winger who typically produces around 50 points.
Tippett is a good player. He's not somebody Chicago should empty its pockets to acquire.
Davidson has three first-round picks in the 2027 draft, giving him other ways to construct an offer. Whether Philadelphia would accept a package built around draft capital is another question entirely.
The Blackhawks should explore Tippett's availability. His shooting ability and physical presence would help immediately.
But Chicago isn't one winger away from competing for a Stanley Cup.
If Philadelphia insists on Nazar or Moore, Davidson should be comfortable walking away.
There will be other scoring wingers. Replacing a young player who develops into something special could prove considerably harder.
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