Quote:
Originally Posted by TheScorpion
For those who are looking purely at Phillips' boxcar totals... he was the leading scorer on a Heat team that could hardly score.
He had barely any help, particularly after Zary left.
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When Zary left, Phillips' production fell off a cliff. Coincidence? I don't think so. The moment I was certain there was no future for Phillips was when you linked a Pettersen goal and the post goal celebration scrum was part of that cut. Pettersen towered over Phillips. Emilio Pettersen, who is borderline too small for the NHL, was huge in comparison. For Phillips to get a chance, and I mean a real chance, he's going to have to become an absolute dominant player at the AHL level. We're talking way beyond a PPG player, probably a point and half or greater. Coming in at .7 PPG and falling off a cliff for much of the season isn't going to earn you anything. In a league where size matters, and the Flames are the exclamation point on that statement, Phillips is fighting an uphill battle. Being the top scorer (tied for the lead anyways) on one of the worst teams in the AHL doesn't mean you have earned a shot. The deficiencies in his game are obvious and that is why he's not getting a shot.