[News] Flames recall Phillips

[PepsiFree]

Will definitely be interesting to see who gets bumped. None of the 4th line is pulling their weight really, so maybe he starts there and takes a few shifts with the Kadri or Backlund line?

Hope he makes the most of it!

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by Lanny_McDonald

It will be interesting to see what the lines look like. Are the Wranglers in town? Will Phillips be able to join practice today?

I'm at Wranglers practice right now ... curiously, neither Phillips nor Zohorna are here

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Flames are clicking in the top nine though ... which winger do you demote?

Toffoli
Huberdeau
Mangiapane
Dube
Coleman
Ruzicka

all noticeably better.

Yeah, I would say they're all improving for sure. But I'm still not convinced the top 6 mix is right. The last two games 4 goals have come from the powerplay and a 5th by the top line into an empty net. That's not indicative that we're out of the woods on consistent 5 v5 play from these lines.

I think it's likely Dube who's going to be asked to centre the 4th line. Sutter has done this with him in the past, and has likewise shown that he likes to use centres he knows he can rely on. Plus Dube has played successfully with Lucic in the past. Rooney sits. Phillips on Backlunds line.

1st line
Ruzicka-Kadri-Mangiapane
Coleman-Backlund-Phillips
Lucic-Dube-Lewis

With Dube getting some extra minutes up the lineup through the game.

What I would prefer, but dont see as likely (yet):

Huby-Lindy-Phillips
Ruzicka-Kadri-Toffoli
Mangiapane-Backlund-Dube
Coleman-Lewis-Lucic

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Not to be a Debbie Downer, but no practice today, game tomorrow, game Saturday, no practice Sunday, game Monday

Don't be surprised if he doesn't play

Yeah, unless there's an injury up front, I suspect he won't play before the Montreal game.

[Burning Beard]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Will definitely be interesting to see who gets bumped. None of the 4th line is pulling their weight really, so maybe he starts there and takes a few shifts with the Kadri or Backlund line?

Hope he makes the most of it!

Mangiapane started on the 4th and worked his way up so I could see the same happening with Phillips. I would also expect to see lots of complaints from certain posters here if that's the case.

[Buff]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Not to be a Debbie Downer, but no practice today, game tomorrow, game Saturday, no practice Sunday, game Monday

Don't be surprised if he doesn't play

Not be an Ulf Upper, but don't be surprised if he leads the league in scoring after this road trip.

[Samonadreau]

Watch Phillips get called up just to collect an NHL paycheck for a week and then sent back down.

Now I'll watch everyone get triggered by this.

[Incogneto]

4th Line of
Lewis - Dube - Ritchie

Seems eons better than:
Lucic - Rooney - Lewis

[Joborule]

Our savior is here. Praise the lord.

[Enoch Root]

If I were going to get him into the lineup, I think I would do this:

Huberdeau - Lindholm - Toffoli
Ruzicka - Backlund - Coleman
Mangiapane - Kadri - Phillips
Lewis - Dube - Ritchie

[Buff]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

I'm at Wranglers practice right now ... curiously, neither Phillips nor Zohorna are here

Probably a maintenance day for Phillips....


...maintain your excitement but you're joining the NHL club!


I have no clue how well Zohorna has been playing but if it has been well then I wouldn't be surprised if he gets a chance to unseat someone on the 4th line.

[Burning Beard]

Not sure why people are wanting to slot Phillips in on the first line. He has played one NHL game so far.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Buff

Not be an Ulf Upper, but don't be surprised if he leads the league in scoring after this road trip.

My expectations are more modest and realistic as I am only expecting 3 goals and 4 assists in each game.

EDIT: while playing on the 4th line, as we can’t be gifting these young men opportunities they haven’t earned.

[8sPOT]

Originally Posted by Yikes

Let's check my list...


- Vladar as starter
- Phillips called up


To do,


- Give Backlund the C
- Deal with Kylington
- Get rid of Sutter
- Deal Markstrom
- Bring up Wolf
- Tie in the Lucic contract to a Hanifin trade...tough one but have got to get these 4th line pluggers gone.

Get rid of Sutter?? Man I'm glad fans dont run the team.

[Buff]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

My expectations are more modest and realistic as I am only expecting 3 goals and 4 assists in each game.

I'm getting sick and tired of your negativity!

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

Yeah, I would say they're all improving for sure. But I'm still not convinced the top 6 mix is right. The last two games 4 goals have come from the powerplay and a 5th by the top line into an empty net. That's not indicative that we're out of the woods on consistent 5 v5 play from these lines.

I think it's likely Dube who's going to be asked to centre the 4th line. Sutter has done this with him in the past, and has likewise shown that he likes to use centres he knows he can rely on. Plus Dube has played successfully with Lucic in the past. Rooney sits. Phillips on Backlunds line.

1st line
Ruzicka-Kadri-Mangiapane
Coleman-Backlund-Phillips
Lucic-Dube-Lewis

With Dube getting some extra minutes up the lineup through the game.

What I would prefer, but dont see as likely (yet):

Huby-Lindy-Phillips
Ruzicka-Kadri-Toffoli
Mangiapane-Backlund-Dube
Coleman-Lewis-Lucic

upsetting all 4 lines, just to get an AHLer into the lineup seems... a tad excessive, no?

[Buff]

Originally Posted by 8sPOT

Get rid of Sutter?? Man I'm glad fans dont run the team.

Maybe he's talking about Brett?

[OutOfTheCube]

Originally Posted by Burning Beard

Now can the whining stop? Lol

Good for Phillips. Hope he runs away with it and takes a permanent spot! Good for the Calgary kid!

Almost.

He needs to actually get some icetime with some decent players. If he plays 8 minutes a night with Ritchie and Lewis then it's kind of pointless.

[redmile04]

Originally Posted by Yikes

Let's check my list...


- Vladar as starter
- Phillips called up


To do,


- Give Backlund the C
- Deal with Kylington
- Get rid of Sutter
- Deal Markstrom
- Bring up Wolf
- Tie in the Lucic contract to a Hanifin trade...tough one but have got to get these 4th line pluggers gone.

Yes, lets get rid of the 2x Stanley cup champion coach that has led us to our only cup run in 32 years, the coach that led us to our first series win in 7 years, the coach that led us to our best regular season in over 30 years and that was following a year we missed the playoffs... great idea!

[Naitix]

Originally Posted by _Q_

Obviously Phillips has been doing well in the AHL, but I don't follow the Wranglers at all. For those who do, what type of player can we expect from him? Is he more like a Gaudreau/Marner type or more Mangiapane style? Or is he his own thing and what does that look like?

A mix in between I would say. He is a less talented but a more relentless Johnny. He is great at zone entries, playing with speed, passing, receiving the puck at speed and is great at creating offence out of nothing. He does not have the strongest shot, so he is more of a threat closer to the net, but he worked a lot on it during summer. I think he compliments big players who are great at forecheck and board play.

I think he would be best with Ruzicka, Huberdeau and maybe Kadri. He has shown chemistry with Ruzicka in the past and as we now know Ruzicka is very dangerous if he gets good shooting opportunities, which Phillips can create. I think he will work with Huberdeau in a similar manner how Johnny worked with Tkachuk in their fast neutral zone transition game.