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

[blankall]

Originally Posted by InternationalVillager

Man. why can't people just be happy for others? You know it's a game right. I wish all the personal success in the world to Phillips. He isn't part of the Flames organization anymore. Pause being a fan of the team for a minute. This player wasn't given the opportunity to succeed here and now that it seems he is being given that opportunity elsewhere, why not be ecstatic for the guy? I hope he ends up playing the full season on the first line and drops 25 goals, 50 points. Will that happen? Who knows. Is it likely? Not really. Do I wish it? Of course. Imagine the impact that would have on his life and his family.

And if that means people will take shots at Sutter and the Flames...then so what? The farmer has taken his ball and went back home to Viking with another massive paycheck. He isn't bothered and neither should you be.

Being happy for Phillips and fairly criticizing the way the Flames organization has handled their prospects over the last few years are not mutually exclusive.

The Flames organization had a major problem. Around 2017 or so, they just stopped giving their prospects proper development time in the NHL, instead saving those spots for veteran journeyman, who, with only few exceptions, contributed absolutely nothing.

And it's totally baffling. We're seeing now, that the Flames actually have a solid group of prospects all on the brink of being NHL ready. Many of these guys might be depth guys, but depth offense is what the Flames have largely been missing for years.

Sure, Phillips is small. Why did Ruzicka and Deuhr get pulled own to have their spots taken up by guys like Ritchie? Why does Zary have ZERO NHL games under his belt. Phillips is a reminder of how the organization has been messing it up. So yes, I can be happy for Phillips, who did everything right, and mad at the organization at the same time.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

I think many fans on here will be wrong about Phillips and don’t like that the Flames screwed it up with him and are not being very honest about the situation.

I don't understand what this means.

[Hackey]

Odds are stacked against him becoming an impact NHLer but I do understand why some wish he was given more opportunity here since he did have success in the AHL. More than likely the bigger loss is Valimaki though if we're gonna worry about players who got away.

[activeStick]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

If the Flames suck and Phillips doesn't this place will have a meltdown.

If that happens there will be:

- regular bumps of this thread whenever he gets a point by historical supporters of Phillips who pushed for him to be in the regular lineup while in Calgary
- irregular bumps of this thread if the Flames happen to be in a scoring slump with questions wondering 'what if?!'

In other words, similar to the Sam Bennett trade though by different posters!

[Enoch Root]

This thread will be bumped EVERY time he gets a point. Why, I do not know - no idea what point people think they are making (that hasn't already been made a thousand times)

[Heavy Jack]

As it would if he ends up getting demoted. What’s your point? Clearly Phillips did some things right if there is this much debate on him while he’s on another team but it’s ultimately coming to a head here with preseason winding up and final rosters getting set. Can you blame people who have invested a ton of care and time into following this prospect along for getting excited that he’s moved up to play opposite of Ovi and Backs?? If how you feel about Phillips is true this thread will be gone by November; if it’s hanging around by then it means Phillips is doing well and good on him for it if that’s the case. Yes this is a Flames board but ultimately we are fans of the NHL and typically if there’s been a somewhat polarizing player or prospect that moves on there will be a large contingent of the fan base that will be committed to following it along and discussing the topic when things of significance update the storyline. Nothing to be too upset over, here’s to Phillips doing well tonight playing with an absolute legend of the game.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Heavy Jack

As it would if he ends up getting demoted. What’s your point? Clearly Phillips did some things right if there is this much debate on him while he’s on another team but it’s ultimately coming to a head here with preseason winding up and final rosters getting set. Can you blame people who have invested a ton of care and time into following this prospect along for getting excited that he’s moved up to play opposite of Ovi and Backs?? If how you feel about Phillips is true this thread will be gone by November; if it’s hanging around by then it means Phillips is doing well and good on him for it if that’s the case. Yes this is a Flames board but ultimately we are fans of the NHL and typically if there’s been a somewhat polarizing player or prospect that moves on there will be a large contingent of the fan base that will be committed to following it along and discussing the topic when things of significance update the storyline. Nothing to be too upset over, here’s to Phillips doing well tonight playing with an absolute legend of the game.

Not sure why you're coming at me - I have already said I hope he does well. I am not rooting against him. I just fail to see why people need to re-hash the same things over and over.

[Funkhouser]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Not sure why you're coming at me - I have already said I hope he does well. I am not rooting against him. I just fail to see why people need to re-hash the same things over and over.

Scientific method.
Some of us predict that Phillips could succeed in the NHL. Others predict the opposite.

Getting an opportunity to play will allow one group to prove their hypothesis and ridicule the others!!

Also, as a Phillips proponent, I hope that the situation will leave egg on the Flames management faces and force them to operate differently in the future.

[FormerPresJamesTaylor]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

This thread will be bumped EVERY time he gets a point. Why, I do not know - no idea what point people think they are making (that hasn't already been made a thousand times)

People want to talk about it, it's not that big of an issue.

[DeluxeMoustache]

This thread may be bumped if he gets a point, but it’s the predictable following several posts about why we’re still talking about this guy, how he was handled by the organization etc. that will make the whole experience painful. Asking why it needs to be rehashed just effectively invites the rehashing

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

This thread will be bumped EVERY time he gets a point. Why, I do not know - no idea what point people think they are making (that hasn't already been made a thousand times)

Soon the first page will be nothing but posts about former players when they get a point.

The Legend Of Sam Bennett.
The Legend of Matthew Tkachuk.
The Legend of Johnny Gaudreau.
The Legend of Milan Lucic.
The Legend of Mathew Phillips.
The Legend of TJ Brodie.

[habernac]

Imagine giving a #### about Matthew Phillips, a guy that was never going to have an impact here.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Originally Posted by Shazam

Soon the first page will be nothing but posts about former players when they get a point.

The Legend Of Sam Bennett.
The Legend of Matthew Tkachuk.
The Legend of Johnny Gaudreau.
The Legend of Milan Lucic.
The Legend of Mathew Phillips.
The Legend of TJ Brodie.

You forgot Toffoli. Soon as he goes on one of his little scoring streaks...

[Shazam]

Toffoli, Valimaki, the legends go on.

[Mr.Coffee]

Originally Posted by habernac

Imagine giving a #### about Matthew Phillips, a guy that was never going to have an impact here.

How do you know?

[Spurs]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

I think many fans on here will be wrong about Phillips and don’t like that the Flames screwed it up with him and are not being very honest about the situation.

If the Flames screwed up then every single team in the league screwed up as well.

Phillips was available on waivers not a single team had interest. If it is clear he is so great any team could have easily traded peanuts to get him, not a single one did.

When he became a free agent he got a pretty low deal that any team could have easily beat without concern for their cap.

How many more times does every other team in the league show they have little to no interest in him before it isn't a Flames problem and a Phillips isn't good enough and nobody but Phillips fan bois think so?

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by Funkhouser

Scientific method.
Some of us predict that Phillips could succeed in the NHL. Others predict the opposite.

Getting an opportunity to play will allow one group to prove their hypothesis and ridicule the others!!

Also, as a Phillips proponent, I hope that the situation will leave egg on the Flames management faces and force them to operate differently in the future.

It probably won't though. The Flames aren't the only team losing good players that they drafted and never gave a real crack to. See Vegas and ask yourself if there are teams that lost true impact players and teams that wished they did things a bit differently during the expansion draft.

I doubt Phillips will be the impact player so not sure why we are going on and on about a guy that might be a borderline NHLer because he got 2 points in a preseason game.

If he starts putting up numbers in October then maybe there is something to debate here.

[Reggie Dunlop]

One day.... a Phillips screwdriver to the heart of this organization. One day...

[Finger Cookin]

My brother only learned to play hockey as a an adult, somehow found himself in a game with touring NHL alumni, and got 10+ assists in the game as a defenseman because he shared some chew with Hawerchuk in the dressing room, and was then instructed "just get the puck in my vicinity and I'll do the rest" (paraphrased).

So yeah, I'm sure Phillips can pick up some points on the ice with Backstrom and Ovechkin in the preseason.

[D as in David]

Originally Posted by Shazam

Soon the first page will be nothing but posts about former players when they get a point.

The Legend Of Sam Bennett.
The Legend of Matthew Tkachuk.
The Legend of Johnny Gaudreau.
The Legend of Milan Lucic.
The Legend of Mathew Phillips.
The Legend of TJ Brodie.

The Legend of Mark, a slightly shorter, similarly passive Joe Colborne, Jankowski.