[News] Flames recall Phillips

[TheIronMaiden]

Originally Posted by Naitix

Considering the pressure Phillips was under in that game - I think he did incredibly well. Imagine finally getting a chance with your hometown team after grinding for 4.5 years in the minors, with the coach that prefers bigger players. If you mess up, that might be your only chance and you would have to leave your favorite team growing up and play somewhere else. Then also make it a game on Hockey night in Canada and you also have huge amount of fans wanting you to succeed.

I think even if you put Johnny in those shoes, he would not be dangling and wheeling right away. I was just concerned if Phillips can keep up at NHL level due to his size, and after that game, it leaned more towards the 'Yes'.

Phillips did not show most of the offensive talent that makes him special, I would expect more of it next couple of games.

It should not matter about the context. An NHLer needs to be the best player they can be every shift. Johnny was never in those shoes because he was the best player he could be in every situation, he went from college to driving the play and never looked back. Phillips will never be that good, which is fine, but he still needs to bring it consistently no matter the pressure.

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Scroll up Zahorna made that pass

Phillips retrieved the puck and got it to Zohorna — he also would've gotten an assist

[Naitix]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

It should not matter about the context. An NHLer needs to be the best player they can be every shift. Johnny was never in those shoes because he was the best player he could be in every situation, he went from college to driving the play and never looked back. Phillips will never be that good, which is fine, but he still needs to bring it consistently no matter the pressure.

Except context has significant effect? Hockey is a game of confidence, you do not come in as a call up and play with the same confidence you just did in the minors in your first game. You can say all you want about NHLer needs to do this and that but the reality is that he is human first, and taking in context matters.

Phillips played a great game, my comment was more directed towards people who wanted to see more from him, which is stupid considering it is his first game and his focus was to have a good simple game

[DazzlinDino]

Originally Posted by Naitix

Considering the pressure Phillips was under in that game - I think he did incredibly well. Imagine finally getting a chance with your hometown team after grinding for 4.5 years in the minors, with the coach that prefers bigger players. If you mess up, that might be your only chance and you would have to leave your favorite team growing up and play somewhere else. Then also make it a game on Hockey night in Canada and you also have huge amount of fans wanting you to succeed.

I think even if you put Johnny in those shoes, he would not be dangling and wheeling right away. I was just concerned if Phillips can keep up at NHL level due to his size, and after that game, it leaned more towards the 'Yes'.

Phillips did not show most of the offensive talent that makes him special, I would expect more of it next couple of games.

Wasn't eat bread really good before he got called up then took awhile before he started showing his skills at the NHL level? Same with Dube, he took awhile to start playing more consistent at the NHL. Don't think Sutter woild be impressed if Philips came in trying to do it all himself, probably prefers he play a good 2 way game and worry about scoring after he shows consistency. There are a lot of other ways he can contribute.

[TheIronMaiden]

Originally Posted by Naitix

Except context has significant effect? Hockey is a game of confidence, you do not come in as a call up and play with the same confidence you just did in the minors in your first game. You can say all you want about NHLer needs to do this and that but the reality is that he is human first, and taking in context matters.

Phillips played a great game, my comment was more directed towards people who wanted to see more from him, which is stupid considering it is his first game and his focus was to have a good simple game

I agree, Phillips played very well within his means. That said, there are no excuses at an NHL level. You are good enough or you aren't. An NHLer cannot wait for the perfect conditions. It is a marathon, and you need to be excellent shift in shift out. I am not saying he can't do this, I am saying an NHLer needs to do this.

[Enoch Root]

I agree that there is a lot of pressure on Phillips. For any call-up, I always hope that they get enough of a look to have a chance to show what they can do (at least 5 games), but that is probably even more necessary and applicable for Phillips. With all of the fan attention, comments from the coach, ongoing size debate in the NHL, etc, he has some weight on his shoulders. I really hope he gets 9 games, and real ice time, to give him a real chance to succeed.

[Buff]

Phillips didn't dazzle but he didn't look lost, he simply did himself a favor and earned more time. Can he keep it up at the NHL level and continue to grow? That's his next test.

[Bingo Jr.]

Well if he's going to succeed, playing with Backlund and our best PPG forward as well as getting PP2 time is the best scenario for him to do so.
I love Sutter is actually giving him a real position to show what he's got.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Bingo Jr.

Well if he's going to succeed, playing with Backlund and our best PPG forward as well as getting PP2 time is the best scenario for him to do so.
I love Sutter is actually giving him a real position to show what he's got.

Bottom line ...

No major mistakes
Kept the puck going up the ice
Never played out of the system

He does that and he gets a longer look for sure.

But additionally, people shouldn't assume that Lucic is out of the lineup for good. He'll get back in even in Phillips and Zahorna have avoided missteps.

[Bingo Jr.]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Bottom line ...

No major mistakes
Kept the puck going up the ice
Never played out of the system

He does that and he gets a longer look for sure.

But additionally, people shouldn't assume that Lucic is out of the lineup for good. He'll get back in even in Phillips and Zahorna have avoided missteps.

True but unfortunate on the Lucic front. I understand he brings intangibles that advanced stats can't measure, but boy is he a hinderance to the team whenever he's on the ice.

Hopefully he benefits from some stronger 4th line players when he makes his way back into the lineup.

[Goriders]

I think this game will be a better indicator of whether Phillips can fit in. He should have a lot of the nerves out and he’s seen game speed

[tony-soprano]

Wen recall Phillips?

[GreenLantern2814]

Against Montreal, Phillips looked like he had a lot of trouble finding open ice.

His speed is nothing special, and I was hoping to see more shiftiness.

He got buried by a no-name Montreal D at one point.

I dunno. I don’t see an NHL regular. I wish I did.

Ruzicka. Now that guy is an NHL player. Try him on line 1.

[Bingo]

Honestly we haven't seen enough either way.

He's played 12 minutes total in two penalty laded hockey games.

Those thinking he looked great are seeing what they want to see. Those thinking he looked poor are seeing what they want to see in my opinion.

He looked better than Ruzicka's first 12 minutes this year though, so he's not kicking the door in, but he's not mailing it in either.

[dino7c]

Thing for Phillips is his size is a factor like it or not

how many 140Lb guys are in the NHL of 800 players or whatever...he needs to be exceptional in others to make up for it no just okay

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Thing for Phillips is his size is a factor like it or not

how many 140Lb guys are in the NHL of 800 players or whatever...he needs to be exceptional in others to make up for it no just okay

Queue the Scorpion weight update!

[Paulie Walnuts]

Its hard to be exceptional in 12 minutes in 2 games. I understand they are penalty filled games, but we have had many games with lots of special teams time and Sutter finds a way to get his boys some solid ice time.

[dino7c]

145?

for the record I am rooting for him and want to see more...not being a hater just being realistic (I think)

He needs to be substantially better offensively than the next guy to make up for the size issues

[TheScorpion]

160.

There hasn't been a substantial enough sample to make any conclusions either way and that's why he hasn't been sent down. We'll just have to wait and see.

[Paulie Walnuts]

It's even dumber to have him up and just sit in the press box, either play him or send him back down to help the Wranglers. Him sitting has no benefit.