There's still lots of time for him to develop, but there are a few publications that seem to have issues with the pick:
The Athletic's Corey Pronman:
Phillips is a huge and highly athletic defenseman. The nearly 6-foot-6 rearguard is quite mobile for his size and is highly physical. He often punishes opponents and can project to make a lot of stops versus men. The issue in Phillips’ game is the lack of puck skills. He struggles to make a basic first pass at the junior level.
The Athletic's Scott Wheeler:
The Mace’o Phillips selection at No. 80 was a head-scratcher for me. I’m sure they see a towering physical menace and special athlete who can move and think he could become a fearsome third-pairing option for them someday. But he really struggles to handle and move the puck and I’ve seen him have too many bad games and moments over the last couple of years to see it. He’s definitely different from the other D they have!
Neutral Zone:
Puck Management Remains a Concern
The most pressing issue with Phillips is his puck security. He averages 5 giveaways per game and completes just 83% of his passes, which is below average for a defenseman who’s not expected to push play offensively. He often forces pucks into traffic or attempts low-percentage passes. As competition gets faster and tighter, these turnovers will be costly.
Later picks are of course a long shot and him being mobile will help his development.
|