PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Owen Tippett signed a $49.6 million, eight-year extension with the Philadelphia Flyers on Friday, a deal that keeps the franchise cornerstone wing in the fold for the team through its rebuilding stage and beyond.

General manager Daniel Briere announced the contract. Once it kicks in next season, Tippett will count $6.2 million against the salary cap through 2031-32, a gamble that he has only started to have success in the NHL.

“It’s a big commitment," Briere said. “Power forwards like him, they’re tough to find: Power forwards that can score and create on their own, even tougher. We think there’s more there. We think he’s going to keep improving.”

Tippett, 24, is second among Flyers players in goals with 18 and is tied for second in points with 30 in 46 games. He scored in highlight-reel fashion last week against the Dallas Stars, passing the puck to himself off the boards, skating around a defender and lifting a backhander past goaltender Jake Oettinger.

Before being injured last weekend, Tippett scored six goals in six games. Negotiations were already underway at that point.

“He probably got himself a few extra dollars there,” Briere said with a smile.

Tippett, in addition to his production, also has the fastest burst of speed by a player this season at 24.21 mph, late in overtime against Montreal on Jan. 10. He has earned praise from coach John Tortorella, even while those in the organization know Tippett has some work to do defensively.

“We believe he’s going to keep improving," Briere said. “At his age, it’s not like he’s played in the NHL since he was 18. Me, personally, I kind of like the fact that he had to go through some tough times. It made him realize that he can fight through. I think that’s something good that he has on his side. We believe there’s more upside there.”

Picked 10th in the 2017 draft, Tippett has been with Philadelphia since the team acquired him from Florida at the 2022 trade deadline in the deal that sent longtime captain Claude Giroux to the Panthers. The Peterborough, Ontario, native has 86 points in 144 games with the Flyers after 33 in 94 with Florida.

Briere confirmed the Flyers had an agreement in place with center Ryan Poehling.

A person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press earlier in the day the contract was worth $3.8 million over the next two years. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because it had not been announced.

Poehling, whose new deal is worth $1.9 million per year for two years, is with his third organization at age 25. He has flourished as a depth forward and penalty killer playing for Tortorella.

“He’s been a great fit,” Briere said. "It’s a contract that’s fair for both sides. It’s not super long. Gives him the chance to maybe even solidify himself and achieve a bigger contract if he performs well down the road. For us, it gives us a couple years to see him and let him grow with our young core.”

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL

Stephen Whyno, The Associated Press