Calgarypuck Prospect Ranking 2025 - Round 22

[Hockey-and_stuff]

Originally Posted by Bingo

They must have a projection on him that is different than others.



They wouldn't just see big and draft big and ignore the puck skills issue if they didn't believe there was something there to work with.

I think they took him for the attributes that he is good at (friggin huge, good defender, physicality) and are going to try to develop some puck skills in his game but this is usually a bet that doesn't work out historically.

That being said, a handful of players in this archetype become NHL players every draft so you might as well shoot your shot.

If he was a 6th round pick people would care less, but he went in the third. Imo the Flames got enough value out of their late round picks in Wyttenbach and Lane to potentially offset this relative "dud" pick

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[Wastedyouth]

One of the biggest issues is this archetype of player usually shows some level of offensive skill in junior or during development. Even the worst offensive dmen that are good defensive players still were able to put up decent points in their junior years.

Maceo shows zero offensive ability against his age peers, this typically means he will be less than useless in the NHL. An old school no talent goon, if that. And even those old goons used to put up offense in junior.

It's really alarming they took him in the 3rd. Hopefully it was a lack of icetime and opportunity that is what lead him to being a black hole on offense.

[Hockey-and_stuff]

I'm agreed on your all your points except the one that it was "alarming" he was taken in the third round.

A casual glance at the players picked in that space look very similar across most teams. Lots of big meaty guys with limited offensive skill.

There were still some good skill picks in the third but many of them went before the Flames had a chance to grab one (I really like Behm, and I wish the Flames had quadrupled down and taken another C in Mateo Nobert)

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[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Hockey-and_stuff

I think they took him for the attributes that he is good at (friggin huge, good defender, physicality) and are going to try to develop some puck skills in his game but this is usually a bet that doesn't work out historically.

That being said, a handful of players in this archetype become NHL players every draft so you might as well shoot your shot.

If he was a 6th round pick people would care less, but he went in the third. Imo the Flames got enough value out of their late round picks in Wyttenbach and Lane to potentially offset this relative "dud" pick

I'm just saying I doubt they see it as a dud.

They would have all the same data ... likelihood, how high on a roster he reaches, shortcomings ...

But took him in the third round any way.

[Hockey-and_stuff]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I'm just saying I doubt they see it as a dud.



They would have all the same data ... likelihood, how high on a roster he reaches, shortcomings ...



But took him in the third round any way.

It goes without saying that the Flames don't think it's a dud. I don't think that needed to be clarified.

It's just my own opinion. I didn't like this pick but I can understand the reasoning behind making a pick like this, especially since nearly all the other 31 GMs took their own version of this skater in the third round.

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[YyjFlames]

Originally Posted by Wastedyouth

One of the biggest issues is this archetype of player usually shows some level of offensive skill in junior or during development. Even the worst offensive dmen that are good defensive players still were able to put up decent points in their junior years.

Maceo shows zero offensive ability against his age peers, this typically means he will be less than useless in the NHL. An old school no talent goon, if that. And even those old goons used to put up offense in junior.

It's really alarming they took him in the 3rd. Hopefully it was a lack of icetime and opportunity that is what lead him to being a black hole on offense.

At least Chris Tanev, Brenden Dillon, Artem Zub, Jamie Oleksiak beg to differ.

It's also not like 80th was a reach either. Bob Mckenzie had Phillips 74th. Elite Prospects had him at 60. Central Scouting had him at 60 amongst NA skaters. Let the prospect cook a little before you completely write him off.

[Ba'alzamon]

Originally Posted by Wastedyouth

One of the biggest issues is this archetype of player usually shows some level of offensive skill in junior or during development. Even the worst offensive dmen that are good defensive players still were able to put up decent points in their junior years.

Maceo shows zero offensive ability against his age peers, this typically means he will be less than useless in the NHL. An old school no talent goon, if that. And even those old goons used to put up offense in junior.

It's really alarming they took him in the 3rd. Hopefully it was a lack of icetime and opportunity that is what lead him to being a black hole on offense.

Phillips played in Minnesota Highschool in 22/23 and scored 22 points in 27 games (future first rounder Mason West had 27 in 30 that same year).

[D as in David]

Originally Posted by Hockey-and_stuff

I'm agreed on your all your points except the one that it was "alarming" he was taken in the third round.

A casual glance at the players picked in that space look very similar across most teams. Lots of big meaty guys with limited offensive skill.

There were still some good skill picks in the third but many of them went before the Flames had a chance to grab one (I really like Behm, and I wish the Flames had quadrupled down and taken another C in Mateo Nobert)

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IIRC, Button mentioned that they noticed other teams had started picking the big players (D-men?), so they felt they needed to get their guy at that point.

[YyjFlames]

Originally Posted by D as in David

IIRC, Button mentioned that they noticed other teams had started picking the big players (D-men?), so they felt they needed to get their guy at that point.

There was a crazy run of 6'3-6'7 beast-sized defenders that went at the top of the second round (5) and again at the top of the 3rd round (6).

He certainly wouldn't have lasted into the 5th with where he was generally ranked as a prospect.

[Hockey-and_stuff]

Originally Posted by YyjFlames

There was a crazy run of 6'3-6'7 beast-sized defenders that went at the top of the second round (5) and again at the top of the 3rd round (6).



He certainly wouldn't have lasted into the 5th with where he was generally ranked as a prospect.

He was ranked roughly where he was taken IIRC. And to your other point, those gigantic defenders were all going in the third.

So I get that if you like one of those guys, and they're all going right in front of you, you don't wait to take Phillips at your pick, since it looked fairly apparent he wasn't going to slip through the cracks.

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[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Hockey-and_stuff

So I get that if you like one of those guys, and they're all going right in front of you, you don't wait to take Phillips at your pick, since it looked fairly apparent he wasn't going to slip through the cracks.

Agreed. After the first couple of rounds, teams value players very differently. Sometimes the most efficient way to draft is not to take the guy you think is the BPA (who may be overlooked by other teams), but to look at the top few guys remaining on your list and take the one that is most likely to be gone before your next pick.

I used to run a fantasy league with an in-person draft. The most fun part of the draft was listening to people cussing out whoever had just picked a player that the rest of them wanted to take next.

To me, Phillips wasn't the BPA at that point, but makes some sense as a tactical pick.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Hockey-and_stuff

It goes without saying that the Flames don't think it's a dud. I don't think that needed to be clarified.

It's just my own opinion. I didn't like this pick but I can understand the reasoning behind making a pick like this, especially since nearly all the other 31 GMs took their own version of this skater in the third round.

Goes without saying, but I think there's a important split in thinking there.

Why would the Flames draft a guy that will only be a 6-7 defenseman if he ever makes it and never put up points?

They didn't.

If they had that assessment they wouldn't have chosen him.

[Dundeel]

Still jamieson

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Goes without saying, but I think there's a important split in thinking there.

Why would the Flames draft a guy that will only be a 6-7 defenseman if he ever makes it and never put up points?

I'm pretty sure they don't expect him to put up any significant number of points. But if his skills improve enough, he could be the kind of anchor defenceman who makes a good #4 and covers for his partner's mistakes. That's a valuable role, and not one that a small player is likely to perform effectively.

[Calgary4LIfe]

People like to write off these huge players, but I think it is a mistake. Sure, Kanzig and Smith both showed flashes of why they were selected at their points, if you care to dig into it. Will Phillips bust like them? Or will he become something?



Flames liked him enough to think that there is something. I also think that the Flames need more size to go along with some of the smaller skilled players. It is a nice balance. If it works out, great, but if it doesn't, so be it. The percentages of a 3rd round player making it are less than 50%, so those that will write him off now are probably going to look right. I just think you wait and see how a kid develops, as I doubt there are many - if any - on here that have watched him play and followed him. Flames can't hit on all their picks, but I don't see this one as a throwaway by any stretch.

[Yanda]

Voting Ciona, I think he has Lomberg potential. I think he adds more identity to the team than Sam Morton. Might be voting for him for awhile, Krill looks good too here.