The AHL is arguably similar in player size as the NHL (lots of big grinders). Phillps has excelled in the AHL playing among those big bodies, his size is not holding him back.
Can he think, play and contribute at the NHL pace is the focal question that should be addressed by giving him real TOI rather than simply saying nope, too small.
At this point what is the downside, anemic offense, already have that, no chemistry, already have that, failure to play the system, already there.
|