Quote:
Originally Posted by Lanny_McDonald
What are the expectations for a Phillips call up? Are people going to be happy when he is on a very short leash? Are people going to be okay if he comes up, doesn't generate much, and ends up sitting most of the game?
If Phillips comes up it is highly probable that Sutter will believe he has to shelter Phillips rather than playing in all situations. This is why he isn't getting a call up IMO. It's not about one-way play, it's about the two-way play that Sutter demands. I don't think he has the confidence that the player coming up will be able to play both sides of the puck at the NHL level, which limits the coach in how he can deploy the player. That is a problem that Phillips won't be able to overcome.
I'm all for a call up, I just don't think Phillips is going to live up to the Scorpion hype that is being built up and Sutter will not deploy the player to meet anyone's satisfaction. It will be a no win situation.
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It sounds like most people are fine if he spends 5-10 games with the big club and gets sent down again if he doesn't do much or is very ineffective. At least everyone will have a better idea of how Phillips looks in the NHL.
Regardless of whether Phillips is Czarnik-type tweener that can be called up with regularity for some scoring help or a third-line energy type like Yamamoto, both would be good successes for a 6th round pick.