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

[Reggie Dunlop]

Originally Posted by Mathgod

The Caps clearly disagree, or they wouldn't have signed him.

The Washington Capitals have never made a bad move?

[TheScorpion]

even if this contract doesn't work out for Washington, it won't have been a bad move at all. pretty much no risk

[Reggie Dunlop]

Hershey won the Calder Cup. Phillips may have some competition.

[transplant99]

I really hope the guy does wonderful things in his career. He has certainly overcome a lot of odds just to carve out the career he has thus far....playing in the AHL is freaking hard.

I just never saw anything suggesting that it would translate into the big league. I could be dead wrong, lord knows it wouldn't be the first time.

[Snuffleupagus]

I have no clue if he'll make it or not, but what I do know is in a time when the flames couldn't score a damn goal if their lives depended on it they finally call up the AHL's leading scorer only to see an idiot dinosaur coach plant his ass on the bench or in the press box.

I want to see him succeed just to be part of Sutter's legacy in Calgary

[PeteMoss]

This is an identical move to when the Flames signed Austin Czarnik a few years back. He was good in the AHL. People got excited and thought - hey maybe we found a hidden gem. And then you watched him and realized he was just a guy.

He should have gotten a chance here.

Its a no-risk signing by the Capitals and a smart move by them.

But the odds of us sitting in a 'legend of Matthew Phillips' thread in a year are pretty slim even though that is a low bar to hit.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

This is an identical move to when the Flames signed Austin Czarnik a few years back. He was good in the AHL. People got excited and thought - hey maybe we found a hidden gem. And then you watched him and realized he was just a guy.

He should have gotten a chance here.

Its a no-risk signing by the Capitals and a smart move by them.

But the odds of us sitting in a 'legend of Matthew Phillips' thread in a year are pretty slim even though that is a low bar to hit.

Maybe. But Austin Czarnik had 17 points in 59 games with almost 800 NHL minutes. Matthew Phillips has 30 minutes. Maybe they're the same, maybe not. We simply have no idea yet which is the whole problem

[Rutuu]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

Maybe. But Austin Czarnik had 17 points in 59 games with almost 800 NHL minutes. Matthew Phillips has 30 minutes. Maybe they're the same, maybe not. We simply have no idea yet which is the whole problem

I think you're minimizing the respect of the league we gained in icing our veteran laden 4th line and the joy of watching the intangibles they brought to the squad. Not to mention we spent to the cap...that shows commitment to the city by our benevolent owner.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

This is an identical move to when the Flames signed Austin Czarnik a few years back. He was good in the AHL. People got excited and thought - hey maybe we found a hidden gem. And then you watched him and realized he was just a guy.

He should have gotten a chance here.

Its a no-risk signing by the Capitals and a smart move by them.

But the odds of us sitting in a 'legend of Matthew Phillips' thread in a year are pretty slim even though that is a low bar to hit.

Agreed. I don’t worry about the potential missed legend thread at all

The guy was a top AHL player and deserved a chance to see if he can be a NHLer

He has very few years in his window for the massive (ie NHL minimum) paycheque.

Good on him for betting on himself. He is finally rewarded for the commitment he has made his entire life just for the opportunity, and I hope he makes good on it

[Flamesfan05]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

Maybe. But Austin Czarnik had 17 points in 59 games with almost 800 NHL minutes. Matthew Phillips has 30 minutes. Maybe they're the same, maybe not. We simply have no idea yet which is the whole problem

Lol you don’t need NHL minutes to know the guy can’t play. Majority never got NHL minutes

[DazzlinDino]

Originally Posted by Johnny Makarov

Bennett didn't play 100 games with us. He played 400! in which he competed in maybe 10% of the games?

It's great that he brings in the playoffs, but what happens when you don't make it? Like if he played consistently through out the year earning his $4mil would it take until game 81 for the Panthers to make the playoffs? Derp.

The coaches in Florida have been quite happy with Sam Bennett, so I am not sure what your point is. Florida seems to be doing quite well with Sam Bennett in the line up. I don't think Florida accomplishes what they did in last seasons playoffs without Sam;; Not sure why you want to diminish that just to discredit the player?

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

This is an identical move to when the Flames signed Austin Czarnik a few years back. He was good in the AHL. People got excited and thought - hey maybe we found a hidden gem. And then you watched him and realized he was just a guy.

He should have gotten a chance here.

Its a no-risk signing by the Capitals and a smart move by them.

But the odds of us sitting in a 'legend of Matthew Phillips' thread in a year are pretty slim even though that is a low bar to hit.

If I remember correctly, they compared Czarnik to Yanni Gourde that was why they went after him hard, and even went out to meet him and present ideas to him.

Gourde is a small in stature as well 5'9 174 lbs. If Phillips pops like that for Washington

Gourde didn't play a full season until he was 26.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

If I remember correctly, they compared Czarnik to Yanni Gourde that was why they went after him hard, and even went out to meet him and present ideas to him.

Gourde is a small in stature as well 5'9 174 lbs. If Phillips pops like that for Washington

Gourde didn't play a full season until he was 26.

Gourde was 25, I think, in 2017-18. The 174 to 140 pound difference is more critical than the 2 inches in height. Plus Gourde got to come in as a bottom 6 centre sheltered by Stamkos and Point. And he also got to play with Point and Palat as a RW sometimes.

[SuperMatt18]

AHL Stats:

Player A: GP: 306, G:98, P: 263, P/GP: 0.86

Player B: GP: 265, G: 103, P: 237, P/GP: 0.89

Player A is Jonathan Marchessault, Player B is Matthew Phillips.

Marchessault played 4 NHL games before he turned 24, and then got his top 6 chance in Florida once he was 25 and put up 51 points in 75 games.

To me that's the risk of what Phillips could provide. He could be Czarnik...he could be Marchessault. Guess we will see what happens.

[boogerz]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Gourde was 25, I think, in 2017-18. The 174 to 140 pound difference is more critical than the 2 inches in height. Plus Gourde got to come in as a bottom 6 centre sheltered by Stamkos and Point. And he also got to play with Point and Palat as a RW sometimes.

Marchessault and Carcone also didn't play in the NHL until they were 25.

Marchessault started on the 4th line (at ES) with Brian Boyle and V. Namestnikov, but also received PP time with Stamkos and Kucherov.


Phillips is in a similar type of position with the Capitals. They have an open bottom six winger spot with little competition (besides Miroshnichenko and McMichael) and a potential spot on the PP when Oshie and Wilson inevitably get injured

[Enoch Root]

Marchessault weighs over 180 lbs, and has little in common with Phillips, other than being short.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Marchessault weighs over 180 lbs, and has little in common with Phillips, other than being short.

I really think being built solidly as a short player is a big deal. There are exceptions - Gaudreau was skinny. But the "india rubber ball" guys do better generally.

[boogerz]

If we're giving Phillips the benefit of the doubt, EP says that he's 165lbs.

That's heavy enough to carve out a spot in the NHL as a smaller, but wiry player (e.g. Yamamoto)

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by boogerz

If we're giving Phillips the benefit of the doubt, EP says that he's 165lbs.

That's heavy enough to carve out a spot in the NHL as a smaller, but wiry player (e.g. Yamamoto)

Not the best example.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Not the best example.

Phillips would probably be happy with Yamamoto's career