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

[boogerz]

Lil Matty is playing bottom-six ES minutes with very limited PP deployment on the second unit. The Caps aren't a very good team, but Matty seems to be doing okay so far:

• His regular ES line with Milano and Strome has the highest xGF of the Caps' lines that have played multiple games
• He's leading all Caps forwards in shots blocked per 60 mins
• He's fourth on the team in high danger xGF

Not to mention that if we look at other small late-bloomer NHLers:

• Marchessault only had 1 point in his first 17 games
• Gourde only had 3 points in his first 16 games
• Carcone only had 6 points in his first 26 games

As long as Matty keeps this up and starts finding ways to get on the scoresheet more regularly by game 25-30, he should finish the season in the NHL.

[Ped]

Phillips is most probably not a difference maker, but the Caps are terrible. They have two players with more than 2 goals. He's ahead of Backstrom, Oshie, Sandin, and Mantha. He's got identical stats to the much-lamented departed Sonny Milano.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Ped

Phillips is most probably not a difference maker, but the Caps are terrible. They have two players with more than 2 goals. He's ahead of Backstrom, Oshie, Sandin, and Mantha. He's got identical stats to the much-lamented departed Sonny Milano.

Backstrom left the team and is basically retired but wants to collect his money...not the highest of bars

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Bubba17

We know you can't stand Sutter. He lost the room to a bunch of prima donna's and got smoked by the Oilers then missed the playoffs. But let's no pretend you or anyone on here know 10% of how to be successful in the NHL.

Sutter vs Woodcroft is so one sided, one will be in the HOF and one won't.

Who is “we”? How many voices you got up there? lol

I’ve been a defender of Sutter for the majority of his time here and since. Part of me wants him back now, given that I’d rather have a jerk as a coach than watch the couple of overpaid veterans run around carefree and useless.

I just think this whole rewriting of his history here thing is a bit corny. Are we seriously going to pretend he was so infallible that he couldn’t have possibly handled Phillips the wrong way? Come on now. “Maybe he knew something all along!” and maybe he gave the guy a sliver of a chance (which, if you look back, I had absolutely no problem with even though “we” know I “hate” Sutter).

The fact that he got out-coached by Woodcroft (and everyone was saying it at the time) when he’s a hall of famer and Woodcroft is a complete loser is what MAKES it embarrassing. Who would argue that Woodcroft is a better coach? lol.

[GullFoss]

Huby to the Caps! It has happen now for it to make sense

[gvitaly]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1721603971549131253

I honestly don't see what their numbers suggest, but good for Phillips.

[Spurs]

Originally Posted by gvitaly

https://twitter.com/user/status/1721603971549131253

I honestly don't see what their numbers suggest, but good for Phillips.

It shows that some people care more about what happens in a spreadsheet than the actual ice. (Not referring to you)

[Tkachukwagon]

That model is ridiculous. Philips has 3 points this season and is averaging about 10 mins of icetime. Ando and Rando are idiots.

[FlamesAddiction]

With numbers like that, you might as well just hand him the Selke right now.

[Johnny Makarov]

Originally Posted by dino7c

kinda funny he has 1 point outside that Flames game

like seriously is this all rigged for storylines?

well didn't our coach start a goalie who was 1-8-1 lifetime against the Caps?
Eff the stats!!!

[FormerPresJamesTaylor]

All the colours are green, nhl player.

[Shazam]

Scoring is overrated.

[activeStick]

Phillips is now at 1G, 3A, 4 PTS through his first 16 games with an even +/-

One random Caps fan's take

https://twitter.com/user/status/1729480874775748678

[The Yen Man]

I guess everyone's afraid of losing out on a potential Martin St. Louis scenario, when the reality is that is a once in a generation type occurrence.

[gvitaly]

Originally Posted by The Yen Man

I guess everyone's afraid of losing out on a potential Martin St. Louis scenario, when the reality is that is a once in a generation type occurrence.

The question is would he be able to help with our PP entries when/if he hits waivers?

[Bonded]

I was hoping this would be bumped with some great stats for Phillips. Going about how I thought it would for him.

[TheIronMaiden]

The Czarnik comparable seems to be true, that said, he should get another 150 games under his belt if that is the case.

[boogerz]

Originally Posted by activeStick

Phillips is now at 1G, 3A, 4 PTS through his first 16 games with an even +/-

One random Caps fan's take

https://twitter.com/user/status/1729480874775748678

I don't follow the Caps, but none of the players in that tweet have proven more or scored more in a given season than Phillips at the AHL-level or on paper, and all of them are older than Phillips except for Miroshnichenko.

Phillips' advanced stats still put him in the top 9 on the Caps roster (albeit with sheltered minutes). He's not driving the play, but he is doing the little things right (e.g. blocking shots and not giving away the puck). At even strength, Phillips is second on the Caps in rebounds created and first in expected goals.

It still too early to make a firm judgement on whether Phillips is or isn't a bonafide NHLer. The Caps' scoring issues are much deeper than replacing a fourth line forward...

[Johnny Makarov]

Originally Posted by activeStick

Phillips is now at 1G, 3A, 4 PTS through his first 16 games with an even +/-

One random Caps fan's take

https://twitter.com/user/status/1729480874775748678

Hasn't he been benched the past 5-6 games?

[Flamesfan05]

Originally Posted by gvitaly

https://twitter.com/user/status/1721603971549131253

I honestly don't see what their numbers suggest, but good for Phillips.

Hahaha best argument for those stats