[Signing] Matthew Phillips to Capitals 1yr 1 way $775K

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Honestly I don't understand those rooting against Phillips to make the Flames "right" anymore than I understand those that cheer against say Markstrom because you've spent the whole summer saying he sucks and you don't want to be wrong.

The first one is cheering the team I guess, but it's over the top.
The second seems like a strange way to support a sports team.

Absolutely. Same for the flip side though - those rooting for Phillips to be a star, just so the Flames are wrong. Both extremes are pretty ridiculous.

Phillips is a good kid and I hope he does well. Unfortunately, along with that, we're going to have to keep reading the posters at both extremes for a long time yet, tying to make their point.

[Spurs]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

The truth lies somewhere in the middle
I think it's valid to say he wasn't given a legitimate and proper look in Calgary given his AHL production and apparent skill.
It's also valid to say that doesn't necessarily mean he is a sure-fire NHLer.

I don't think he was screwed over. But I also don't think he was given much of a chance.

As with many things people are arguing on the extremes.

I didn't see anything from him that said he deserved much more of a chance that he got. Unfortunately, for him, we have seen a ton of guys that put up points at the AHL level do nothing at the NHL level and he offers nothing outside of points.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Spurs

I didn't see anything from him that said he deserved much more of a chance that he got. Unfortunately, for him, we have seen a ton of guys that put up points at the AHL level do nothing at the NHL level and he offers nothing outside of points.

Nor did I but it was a pretty small sample size

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by Flamesfan05

Like all ex Flames, he will score a hat trick on his first game then never heard from again

https://www.espn.com/nhl/player/game...8/joe-colborne

(Start from the bottom)

[Reggie Dunlop]

I hope General Zad lines him up in a Tunnel of Death and hits him so hard five more nesting Matryoshka dolls pop out.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

One game.

I hope he gets some PP time and some time with the top guys just so his detractors don't get to gloat too much.

The only way Phillips sees Power Play time is if Coach Carbery stacks he and Sonny Milano up in a trench coat and sends 'em out to screen the goalie.

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

The only way Phillips sees Power Play time is if Coach Carbery stacks he and Sonny Milano up in a trench coat and sends 'em out to screen the goalie.

Come-on man, he got PP time last night, 2 seconds worth

[kipperiggy]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

The truth lies somewhere in the middle
I think it's valid to say he wasn't given a legitimate and proper look in Calgary given his AHL production and apparent skill.
It's also valid to say that doesn't necessarily mean he is a sure-fire NHLer.

I don't think he was screwed over. But I also don't think he was given much of a chance.

As with many things people are arguing on the extremes.

How dare you bring logic into this thread! /green

[transplant99]

From the horses mouth.

Matthew Phillips on his stint w Sutter:

“I definitely think my situation was blown out of proportion. Personally there was nothing that crossed the line or that I felt disrespected. There was just not much communication. But everyone has their coaching style & that was his”

https://twitter.com/EricFrancis/stat...68830214447352

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Were there rumours that Sutter was verbally abusive with Phillips? I thought the issue was he just didn’t want to play him.

[Kipper_3434]

Originally Posted by transplant99

From the horses mouth.



https://twitter.com/EricFrancis/stat...68830214447352

Thanks for this, Sutter has always been a great human, he can be a tough coach but some of the speculation was starting to border on him being mentally abusive to players. I don't think that's very fair as he has always seemed very respectful outside of post-game media interviews.

[Mindtravellee]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

Were there rumours that Sutter was verbally abusive with Phillips? I thought the issue was he just didn’t want to play him.

Didn't want to play him, didn't communicate how to improve, didn't seem to talk to him in the 30 days he sat on the bench.

Any other workplace you would be livid

[Paulie Walnuts]

He threw random shots at him when he was in the minors.

[Hackey]

Originally Posted by Spurs

I didn't see anything from him that said he deserved much more of a chance that he got. Unfortunately, for him, we have seen a ton of guys that put up points at the AHL level do nothing at the NHL level and he offers nothing outside of points.

To be fair he played like 25 minutes in the NHL for the Flames. Most of those minutes were probably not the most ideal for seeing his full potential. Having said that I don't really care we lost him because at best I think he turns into a Paul Byron level player and those aren't exactly franchise altering guys.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Paul Byron would be a loss if that's the case cheap 20 goal production speed and penalty killing ability. Especially at a salary of under 1 million.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by Mindtravellee

Didn't want to play him, didn't communicate how to improve, didn't seem to talk to him in the 30 days he sat on the bench.

Any other workplace you would be livid

Correct. That’s why I said that. But op specifically said from the horses mouth and highlighted a section dispelling rumours of Sutter being toxic to Phillips.

Hence my confusion and asking if I must have missed some posts or rumours about inappropriate behaviour from Sutter.

Him just being a crappy coach isn’t new.

[868904]

Sutter hates the media, all "the shots" about Pelletier and Phillips etc were all directed at the media. He hates it when the media thinks they know better than him. That's what that whole "what number was he" crap was all about; it came out all bad and that's ON Sutter. His hatred of the media blinded and blurred his reasoning, it pretty much consumed him here and he just started doing the opposite of whatever the media was clamouring for; "oh you don't like Lewis and Looch and Ritchie playing so much? I'll show you". Sutter let the media get to him and that's on him.

[Bingo]

I think things can get blown out of proportion for sure.

But it certainly sounds like he was toying with Pelletier about when he was going to play making it almost impossible for his parents to get to Calgary.

That's cruel.

[Spurs]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

Were there rumours that Sutter was verbally abusive with Phillips? I thought the issue was he just didn’t want to play him.

Just the usual blame Sutter for everything last season rather than admit that the players weren't good enough themselves.

When you throw in the Phillips fan boys inability to ever acknowledge it is the fact he isn't good enough that "held him back" then you know they will latch on to another excuse to explain why he didn't make it.

[Spurs]

Originally Posted by Hackey

To be fair he played like 25 minutes in the NHL for the Flames. Most of those minutes were probably not the most ideal for seeing his full potential. Having said that I don't really care we lost him because at best I think he turns into a Paul Byron level player and those aren't exactly franchise altering guys.

He had multiple seasons at the AHL to show that he had the skill set to make it in the NHL and the league let him pass through waivers, never made an attempt to trade for him when it was clear Calgary had little interest in him at the NHL level and then signed a minimal contract.

I am not sure every player needs time in the NHL before people can determine that they are not suited for the league. It happens all the time and most often people don't blink but because he has a vocal following we hear a lot more about him.