[Signing] Flames sign Phillips and Philp (both 1 yr, $750k, 2 way)

[Reggie Dunlop]

Philp I think is close... a Derek Ryan replacement in many respects.

[Geeoff]

Originally Posted by Stanley

I hope Labarbera is the right goalie coach for this team.. dunno much about his resume/success/reputation

uhhh well, he likes Metallica a lot. That's all I've got.

[IamNotKenKing]

Originally Posted by Geeoff

uhhh well, he likes Metallica a lot. That's all I've got.

Then I support him, provided it is pre-Black album Metallica.

[SeanCharles]

Originally Posted by Flamesfan05

Yeah, right now the job is his to lose
But Treliving may bring another goalie

Originally Posted by activeStick

Yup, agree with you 100%. Treliving said as much himself when he acquired him.

Originally Posted by Flamesfan05

Probably but I thought Treliving said he may bring in one more goalie

I believe this was said before the Adam Werner signing was announced.

[Hey Connor, It's Mess]

It would be cool to see Philp make it to the next level. He could be our Derek Ryan 2.0.

[boogerz]

It would be great to see lil Matty get a real chance in the NHL this season.

He's put in his dues to warrant a cup of tea.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Glad they are re-signed, and I expect everyone else to be soon too.


I doubt, however, that anyone would claim Phillips. I personally like him as a prospect, but he is tiny and a question mark. He didn't rip the AHL a new one either, so it isn't like he is some phenom that is being held back in some way. I do expect him to get a look through injuries this season - and he deserves it. I do not, however, think anyone is going to claim him. I would think there would be more interested teams putting a claim in on Kylington than Phillips, but even then I expect Kylington to pass through waivers on the deadline when teams have to finalize their rosters.



The only wildcard would be Seattle, since I have no idea how they are building their roster right now, and I can see them claiming a couple of players then.

[transplant99]

HEIGHT: 5'7" WEIGHT: 155 lbs.

Well at least he has put on some weight since his draft...but that would still be the lightest/smallest guy in the league Im guessing.

No team is going to claim him and keep a roster spot for him without seeing if he can do his thing at the NHL level first.

[Lanny_McDonald]

One year deal each? Neither player is an NHL player. This will be their last contract with the Flames organization. Likely UFAs come next year and then off to Europe.

[Sheva #7]

Originally Posted by Lanny_McDonald

One year deal each? Neither player is an NHL player. This will be their last contract with the Flames organization. Likely UFAs come next year and then off to Europe.

But Loubardias said Matthew Phillips is a great human being?

[Reggie Dunlop]

Phillips might get a handful of games at most, even if he were to latch on with another NHL organization. He'll be a legend in the Swiss League though.

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by Lanny_McDonald

One year deal each? Neither player is an NHL player. This will be their last contract with the Flames organization. Likely UFAs come next year and then off to Europe.

I just can't imagine having this rigid of a mindset about two of the most exciting players on the Flames' AHL affiliate.

[timbit]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

I just can't imagine having this rigid of a mindset about two of the most exciting players on the Flames' AHL affiliate.

Scorp, aside from the excitement they provide at the AHL level....

Do you project either as skilled top 6 Fs with the Flames?

If not, where do they fit on an NHL team?

I’m not sure everyone understands the humongous jump, it takes, from the AHL to the NHL. Lots of great minor leaguers who couldn’t do it.

[TheScorpion]

I don't see either player as being top-six or bust types. Both are extremely hard-working players with big motors. They play multiple forward positions. They're both good skaters. The jump is big for everyone, so why do I constantly see that cited for sub 6' guys? The NHL has plenty of effective players in the 5'7"—5'11" range.


I'm not saying either will make it, but I think it's pretty unfair to write either guy off on size alone. They've been productive on bad Heat teams and they have the work ethic and versatility to go far in the NHL. I see Phillips having potential middle-six upside and Philp having 3-4C potential.

If they don't reach that ceiling, I don't think size is going to be the preventative factor — I think it'll more likely be speed with the puck. Both guys are quick with possession at the AHL level but I'm not sure how it'll translate to the NHL.

I see far more potentially holding back guys like Ruzicka and Gawdin, for instance. Ruzicka's game still needs a ton of work and Gawdin doesn't stand out nearly enough at the AHL level.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

The NHL has plenty of effective players in the 5'7"—5'11" range.

First of all, there is a massive difference between 5'7 (67") and 5'11 (71").
Here's the break down for playing more than half a season over the past five seasons.

5'4" - 1
5'5" - 0
5'6" - 1
5'7" - 4
5'8" - 8
5'9" - 34
5'10" - 54
5'11 - 122

The lets look beyond that.

6'0" - 173
6'1" - 188
6'2" - 166
6'3" - 177
6'4" - 63
6'5" - 20
6'6" - 14
6'7" - 4
6'8" - 1
6'9" - 1

I'm not saying either will make it, but I think it's pretty unfair to write either guy off on size alone. They've been productive on bad Heat teams and they have the work ethic and versatility to go far in the NHL. I see Phillips having potential middle-six upside and Philp having 3-4C potential.

I'll piss Bongo off and go out on a limb and speak in definitives, saying neither will be NHL players. Both are too small and have not dominated the minor league levels in any shape or form. Both are getting too old and don't have the time left to be a dominant player. I see a European league in both play's futures, because that is where the these types of players end up. They are both skilled players, but have limiting factors that do NOT make them NHL players.

If they don't reach that ceiling, I don't think size is going to be the preventative factor — I think it'll more likely be speed with the puck. Both guys are quick with possession at the AHL level but I'm not sure how it'll translate to the NHL.

If they can't do it in the minors, they definitely can't do it in the NHL. What is the driver? Lack of talent, or lack of size?

I see far more potentially holding back guys like Ruzicka and Gawdin, for instance. Ruzicka's game still needs a ton of work and Gawdin doesn't stand out nearly enough at the AHL level.

Size matters. But so does skill. If someone sets you up with a wide open net for a yeah, and you hit the corner of the rink with your attempt, you're not NHL talent. At least if you have size, you can grind it out and win puck battles that helps your team. You can at least make it more difficult on the opposition by wearing them down. A guy that is 5'5 and a 155 pounds? That's a lifting workout in the weight room. If you're that size, you have to be elite. The Flames have none of that in the minors. None.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Lanny_McDonald

First of all, there is a massive difference between 5'7 (67") and 5'11 (71").
Here's the break down for playing more than half a season over the past five seasons.

5'4" - 1
5'5" - 0
5'6" - 1
5'7" - 4
5'8" - 8
5'9" - 34
5'10" - 54
5'11 - 122

The lets look beyond that.

6'0" - 173
6'1" - 188
6'2" - 166
6'3" - 177
6'4" - 63
6'5" - 20
6'6" - 14
6'7" - 4
6'8" - 1
6'9" - 1



I'll piss Bongo off and go out on a limb and speak in definitives, saying neither will be NHL players. Both are too small and have not dominated the minor league levels in any shape or form. Both are getting too old and don't have the time left to be a dominant player. I see a European.

Those numbers say a lot. And I’ll go out on a limb and say that there are a lot more humans at 5’7” than at 6’7”, so it’s not like you get too tall to play in the NHL - there just aren’t a lot that size to draw upon.

[boogerz]

Originally Posted by Lanny_McDonald

Size matters. But so does skill. If someone sets you up with a wide open net for a yeah, and you hit the corner of the rink with your attempt, you're not NHL talent. At least if you have size, you can grind it out and win puck battles that helps your team. You can at least make it more difficult on the opposition by wearing them down. A guy that is 5'5 and a 155 pounds? That's a lifting workout in the weight room. If you're that size, you have to be elite. The Flames have none of that in the minors. None.

In fairness to Phillips, that Backlund pass was a bouncing puck and it was his first NHL game. Gaudreau setup a wide-open Valimaki in the same position the previous game and Valimaki also whiffed and sent it into the corner. Rookies are going to make mistakes regardless of their skill level...

Mangiapane is marginally bigger, but he didn't look good in his first 10-game NHL stint and it took him 18 games spread across two seasons before he got his first NHL point. None of us thought he'd end up enough to be a regular second liner, but he got better with the more chances that he got.

Phillips is highly skilled, has a good motor, and plays the "right way" (to the extent of his size). If he's made it this far being as tiny as he is, he deserves a real chance to prove himself in the NHL

[djsFlames]

Brad.







EICHEL.

[oldschoolcalgary]

had to do a search as I was shocked that there was 5'4" player in the NHL?!

https://twitter.com/user/status/1217281406780542978


Nathan Gerbe had 20lbs on Phillips though but he had a surprisingly long NHL career - though it seems like only 2 years did he play close to a full regular season schedule

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by boogerz

Mangiapane is marginally bigger, but he didn't look good in his first 10-game NHL stint and it took him 18 games spread across two seasons before he got his first NHL point. None of us thought he'd end up enough to be a regular second liner, but he got better with the more chances that he got.

When you say "marginally bigger" you mean three inches in height and thirty pounds in weight, right? So almost 20% of Phillips' body mass is the "marginal" difference between the two. That isn't marginal.

Mangiapane also scored at better than a PPG clip for his last two seasons in the AHL (only portions of, not complete seasons), something Matthew Phillips has been unable to come close to. Phillips best was .86 PPG followed by a regression to .7 PPG the last two seasons. Conversely, Ruzicka went from .5 PPG to .75 PPG, showing progression in his development, which is why he was recalled over Phillips. Neither compare to Mangiapane though, who scored at a 1.17 PPG clip, then a small drop off to 1.13 PPG before sticking in the NHL.

Phillips is highly skilled, has a good motor, and plays the "right way" (to the extent of his size). If he's made it this far being as tiny as he is, he deserves a real chance to prove himself in the NHL

Phillips may have all these great things for the AHL, but he is in tough for the NHL. He's going to the NHL where everyone has his motor and is highly skilled. He has to stand out in good ways, and that means scoring. If he isn't doing that, then he's no use to the team. He's too small to do anything else. If he wants to be an NHL player, he better start by scoring at a better than a PPG clip at the AHL level.