[News] Flames recall Phillips - Page 21 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Hack&Lube · 12-09-2022, 12:29 PM

Darryl says Phillips is not ahead of any of the top-9 guys right now so that's why it's a stretch for him to be up there.

He is pulling for him however.

TherapyforGlencross · 12-09-2022, 12:37 PM

Sutter is a fair coach. Makes sense to me why he wouldn’t slot in the top-9.. the top 9 are becoming more cohesive and playing a good stretch of games. If the top-9 wasn’t, why would Phillips slot in if it’s merit-based system.. I’m excited to see how he plays!

Enoch Root · 12-09-2022, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

The top line is due for some correction. However you expect top lines to outproduce their xG, that's what makes them a top line and not a second line. High end finishing.

Sure.

But you're trying to argue that an AHL call-up deserves to supplant someone from the top 9. You have simply not presented anything that would justify that.

Phillips is going to get a chance to play. If he shows he can handle the NHL, and is an improvement on one or more of the 4th liners, he'll get more opportunity. And then it goes from there.

Your arguments that the top line has only been okay - on a team that has been winning - is a) highly debatable, and b) completely irrelevant.

CF84 · 12-09-2022, 01:32 PM

It's good to see Sutter say he's pulling for Phillips because it would have been difficult to believe that without him directly communicating it to the media. If he hadn't thrown that last little comment in, I would have thought he was a bit upset that Phillips was even playing on the team based on all of his comments. I still wonder if Treliving and Sutter had an arm wrestling match?

FanIn80 · 12-09-2022, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by getbak

Fun fact, 2004 was the only time the Flames have played more than 22 games in the playoffs, when they played 26.

Both the 1986 and 1989 runs were only 22 games long. The 1981 run to the final four was 16 games. Last season's 12 games was the 5th longest playoff run in Flames' history.

I remember the playoff structure at one time was best of three for round 1, best of five for round 2 and then best of seven for rounds 3 and 4. Later evolved to best of five in round 1 and seven for the rest.

I know '89 was 4 best of sevens, but I think 86 was a best of five vs the Jets in round 1.

Mathgod · 12-09-2022, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

But you're trying to argue that an AHL call-up deserves to supplant someone from the top 9. You have simply not presented anything that would justify that.

The justification could be that Huberdeau may benefit from having a skilled speedster on his line, and Phillips could potentially fit that role.

However, there's also good justification for leaving the top 9 the way it is. That's what the team has clearly decided to do. Maybe this is the best strategy after all, giving Looch a way to make himself useful for a change... be Matty's bodyguard!

Textcritic · 12-09-2022, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mathgod

The justification could be that Huberdeau may benefit from having a skilled speedster on his line, and Phillips could potentially fit that role...

But if that's the way they want to go, they already have one of those in the lineup, and Dillon Dube is arguably a more skilled, faster and a better overall player than Phillips.

Mathgod · 12-09-2022, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Textcritic

But if that's the way they want to go, they already have one of those in the lineup, and Dillon Dube is arguably a more skilled, faster and a better overall player than Phillips.

Maybe Phillips could blow way past expectations just like Ruzicka has.

king_amonte · 12-09-2022, 03:38 PM

Steinberg and Francis saying on the fan that rumblings out of Columbus that Phillips may not be playing tonight after all. Classic troll move by Sutter.

Kasi · 12-09-2022, 03:39 PM

Not saying that’s the case here or that he’s not where he should be but it’s not exactly a universal rule that players promoted from the minors are put on the fourth line. Players fit in to different spots depending on their skills. It doesn’t have to be a matter of deserving or punishing existing players when a player is slotted further up in the lineup. Often top forward picks get put on to middle lines to start. I think Phillips would be fine there but I think there are reasons (good and bad here) why he’s on the fourth.

I still think Backlund is by far the best teacher of good practices the team has and has done an amazing job over the years of training players. But that line is also the best line atm so I agree with not changing it.

joejoe3 · 12-09-2022, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by king_amonte

Steinberg and Francis saying on the fan that rumblings out of Columbus that Phillips may not be playing tonight after all. Classic troll move by Sutter.

Ah, so Zohorna - Phillips draws in tonight.

Textcritic · 12-09-2022, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mathgod

Maybe Phillips could blow way past expectations just like Ruzicka has.

It has taken Ruzicka the better part of two seasons now to get there.

Samonadreau · 12-09-2022, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Textcritic

It has taken Ruzicka the better part of two seasons now to get there.

Adam Ruzicka total games played in the NHL: 47. 16 of those this season at ppg clip. He won't continue ppg but took him more like 20 games or so to get there I would say.

Mathgod · 12-09-2022, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Textcritic

It has taken Ruzicka the better part of two seasons now to get there.

That's a pretty good argument for being patient with Phillips if he doesn't light the world on fire from the get go.

Looks like Matty won't be playing tonight.

Hopefully he gets a shot sometime soon.

Textcritic · 12-09-2022, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mathgod

That's a pretty good argument for being patient with Phillips if he doesn't light the world on fire from the get go...

Absolutely.

TrentCrimmIndependent · 12-09-2022, 04:07 PM

get this kid started on his nhl development

there's no reason for further delay . you don't need brutes against the blue Jackets

SoulOfTheFlame · 12-09-2022, 05:21 PM

Ugh wish he was playing. Boring watching the plug line again.. Is hockey supposed to be entertaining?

sureLoss · 12-09-2022, 05:26 PM

https://twitter.com/user/status/1601369405329399808

saillias · 12-09-2022, 05:29 PM

That actually makes less sense than what I assumed - that Sutter is just stubborn and once Zohorna was available he preferred his size to Phillips and made a last minute decision. why is he here then. there's no top 6 spot open

Kasi · 12-09-2022, 05:31 PM

Okay that is good news. I knew putting Phillips into the fourth line made no sense. If it takes them a few days to find a spot to fit him in there and find out who moves to the fourth that’s good. The top two lines are hardly playing great so there will be some juggling.

Edit: sallias I assume they realize the top six is struggling and they can use a skill player like Phillips there. Obv if there is no top six spot available then that’s a catch 22 and this whole thing is pointless.