Philadelphia Flyers place Owen Tippett on injured reserve

The Philadelphia Flyers announced on Saturday that winger Owen Tippett has been placed on the team’s reserve list due to an upper body injury.

Tippett, 23, was injured in the Flyers’ season opener against the New Jersey Devils on Thursday after colliding with Devils forward Ondrej Palat late in the first period. While Palat returned for the start of the game’s second period, Tippett did not.

After being drafted by the Florida Panthers in the first round (10th overall) in 2017, Tippett spent a few seasons with the organization before eventually being traded to Philadelphia as part of the blockbuster Claude deal. Giroux in March of this year.

In 116 National Hockey League appearances to date, the team from Peterborough, Ont. native recorded 18 goals and 22 assists for a total of 40 career points. With the Flyers, he had four goals and three assists in 22 games.

On Friday, head coach John Tortorella revealed that Tippett was day-to-day and likely wouldn’t dress for Saturday’s game against the Vancouver Canucks. Being placed on IR means Tippett will be out of the game for at least seven days.

Tortorella had also said veteran striker Cam Atkinson and defender Rasmus Ristolainen were also struggling with day-to-day injuries and were unlikely to play on Saturday. Atkinson, 33, has been struggling with an upper body injury for a few weeks and missed the season opener. The nature of Ristolainen’s injury is unknown as the 27-year-old left training on Wednesday and also did not dress for Thursday’s season opener.

According to the team, 23-year-old Olle Lycksell has been recalled from their American Hockey League affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Lycksell will be available for Saturday’s game, and if he plays, it would not only mark his NHL debut, but also his North American debut.

The Swedish center was drafted by the Flyers in 2017 168th overall, but has spent his entire professional career in the Swedish Hockey League.

After Saturday’s meeting with the Canucks, the Flyers hit the road with games against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Florida Panthers and Nashville Predators.