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

[Sandman]

I hope I'm wrong, he's a good person from a solid family....

[FireGilbert]

Originally Posted by mrdonkey

Losing good, young players for nothing and paying to take on overpaid problems is a Flames tradition that transcends an arc, it's a series that's been going on longer than The Simpsons.

This story arc has reached full circle with Conroy, once acquired in a trade, then lost for nothing, then re-acquired in a trade, now the GM.

[codynw]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

To add to this point. Gaudreau could also be trusted to cover top line players. While D-fence was far from his strong suit he was far from a liability. To put that in perspective his career +/- is better than Draistaitl's

I think we’re remembering a different Johnny. I clearly remember the Monahan/Gaudreau line routinely getting their heads kicked in possession-wise by top players at even strength.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

Sounds awfully similar to St Louis

The age would be the only viable comparison to St. Louis.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

To add to this point. Gaudreau could also be trusted to cover top line players. While D-fence was far from his strong suit he was far from a liability. To put that in perspective his career +/- is better than Draistaitl's

+/- is pretty much a useless stat, especially is suggesting a player is a good defensive player.

There are just too many variables.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

To add to this point. Gaudreau could also be trusted to cover top line players. While D-fence was far from his strong suit he was far from a liability. To put that in perspective his career +/- is better than Draistaitl's

Gaudreau's positive career +/- comes almost entirely from 2021/22 under Sutter, where he was plus 64. Without that year, he's at -12. Gaudreau was -33 last year, so his career positive +/-is likely to be temporary, even with that Sutter year.

Gaudreau had the occasional highlight real takeaway, but he is not naturally a great defensive player.

Philips has plenty of speed. I'd argue he's better defensively and positionally than Gaudreau. Philips obviously doesn't have the puck possession or edge work of Gaudreau, but who has?

I still think it was a mistake not to give Philips a chance. Sutter really went from liking hard work to just liking big players, and really compromised his talent assessment skills in the process. Sutter isn't especially big himself, and the irony is that Sutter probably wouldn't give himself a chance now.

[Flames1217]

Originally Posted by blankall

Gaudreau's positive career +/- comes almost entirely from 2021/22 under Sutter, where he was plus 64. Without that year, he's at -12. Gaudreau was -33 last year, so his career positive +/-is likely to be temporary, even with that Sutter year.

Gaudreau had the occasional highlight real takeaway, but he is not naturally a great defensive player.

Philips has plenty of speed. I'd argue he's better defensively and positionally than Gaudreau. Philips obviously doesn't have the puck possession or edge work of Gaudreau, but who has?

I still think it was a mistake not to give Philips a chance. Sutter really went from liking hard work to just liking big players, and really compromised his talent assessment skills in the process. Sutter isn't especially big himself, and the irony is that Sutter probably wouldn't give himself a chance now.

Philips is not better than Gaudreau defensively and it's not even really that close.

Gaudreau is great at anticipating passes and stealing pucks. The reason Philips failed to make the Flames was due to his lack of size and his defensive play. I'm not calling Gaudreau a Selke calibre player but the difference between both players is quite substantial.

Philips has all the talent in the world but gets pushed around and has major problems when it comes to playing sound and efficient defense at the NHL level.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by jayswin

That's definitely not invisible. Where'd you hear that, GioforPM?

Right here on this site

[blankall]

Originally Posted by Flames1217

Philips is not better than Gaudreau defensively and it's not even really that close.

Gaudreau is great at anticipating passes and stealing pucks. The reason Philips failed to make the Flames was due to his lack of size and his defensive play. I'm not calling Gaudreau a Selke calibre player but the difference between both players is quite substantial.

Philips has all the talent in the world but gets pushed around and has major problems when it comes to playing sound and efficient defense at the NHL level.

"Sound defensive game"

https://thehockeywriters.com/meet-ne...thew-phillips/

I agree that Philips is small though.

It's a bit of neither here nor there, with the argument of defensive game. You're comparing a 3/10 to a 4/10 and arguing with is the 4. To say Gaudreau runs away with the comparison over defence is absurd though. Gateway barely played more than ten feet back of his own blue line until Sutter made him. Philips is much quicker on transition and the back check.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

Sounds awfully similar to St Louis

There is very little similarity beyond their shared distinction as undersized players, and their departure from the Flames.

St. Louis had already played in over 60 NHL games with Calgary, and he averaged top-nine production that time. Philips has yet to even become a noticable and effective player at this level.

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[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by blankall

"Sound defensive game"

https://thehockeywriters.com/meet-ne...thew-phillips/

I agree that Philips is small though.

It's a bit of neither here nor there, with the argument of defensive game. You're comparing a 3/10 to a 4/10 and arguing with is the 4. To say Gaudreau runs away with the comparison over defence is absurd though. Gateway barely played more than ten feet back of his own blue line until Sutter made him. Philips is much quicker on transition and the back check.

Sorry but Gaudreau is more like an 8/10 defensively if Phillips is a 3. At least he was in his last year here, I have not watched him in Columbus. Phillips kind of reminds me of a smaller Marty Murray.

[FlamesAddiction]

St. Louis was also spark plug. He was a lot more aggressive of a player. He doesn’t compare at all really.

[Heavy Jack]

You know Phillips could be a player similar to St.Louis but also never crack the NHL full time. Anyone who is saying Phillips isn’t an aggressive player doesn’t know the player IMO, he lead the league in scoring for the AHL last year because of his tenacity around the net. Say what you want about Phillips, debate and debate that his size isn’t going to allow him in to the NHL but I’ll challenge anyone who says Phillips game is passive and ‘small’.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Heavy Jack

You know Phillips could be a player similar to St.Louis but also never crack the NHL full time. Anyone who is saying Phillips isn’t an aggressive player doesn’t know the player IMO, he lead the league in scoring for the AHL last year because of his tenacity around the net. Say what you want about Phillips, debate and debate that his size isn’t going to allow him in to the NHL but I’ll challenge anyone who says Phillips game is passive and ‘small’.

And I will challenge anyone who suggests that Phillips plays the game like, or, is anywhere near as good of a player as Martin St. Louis ever was.

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[Canada 02]

Martin St. Louis’s leg weighs more than Phillips

[TheScorpion]

I think there is a wide chasm between Phillips and St Louis, but I don't think that chasm will prevent Phillips from being a good NHL player. Being the next St Louis is not the prerequisite for a small player to succeed in the NHL, just as being the next Chara is not the requirement for a big player.

Not directed at anyone specific, but I think it is largely pointless to act like a spurned ex and judge Phillips from the perspective of what the Flames lost when he left. You can think he's no big loss, but I don't see why anyone wouldn't be cheering for him to succeed in Washington. He's getting a big opportunity. The Caps seem to have more belief in him as a player. He's on a one-way deal. I hope he knocks em dead.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Canada 02

Martin St. Louis’s leg weighs more than Phillips

Yup.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

I think there is a wide chasm between Phillips and St Louis, but I don't think that chasm will prevent Phillips from being a good NHL player. Being the next St Louis is not the prerequisite for a small player to succeed in the NHL, just as being the next Chara is not the requirement for a big player.

Not directed at anyone specific, but I think it is largely pointless to act like a spurned ex and judge Phillips from the perspective of what the Flames lost when he left. You can think he's no big loss, but I don't see why anyone wouldn't be cheering for him to succeed in Washington. He's getting a big opportunity. The Caps seem to have more belief in him as a player. He's on a one-way deal. I hope he knocks em dead.

I agree with all of this, but am mostly frustrated by two things: 1) the never-ending and poorly formulated comparisons made between Phillips and St. Louis, and 2) the insistence that Phillips was too good of a player to lose.

I expect that Phillips will probably make the team out of camp, and I think he will have a good season, which is great. But, I also don't believe he will be substantially missed on the Flames roster this year. It would have been difficult to find room for him on this roster.

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[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

The age would be the only viable comparison to St. Louis.

That’s obviously the only comparison I can make right now. But, St. Louis got a fair shake in Tampa Bay and look where that led him.

[activeStick]

Am I alone here? I of course wanted to see the kid do well before because he was a Flame, but he never really got a long look in Calgary, so I don't feel particularly attached to the player and his progress in Washington. No ill will obviously, but he's a strange former Flames prospect to still be tracking lol. I actually forgot about him!