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

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Huska didn't have him in the AHL. MacLean and Love did.

Love has now apparently helped bring him to Washington.

Right....was thinking of Cail Maclean

Either way though, the guy is 25 years old and it seems unlikely he will ever be anything than an AHL guy.

I think he would do really well in Europe though. Perfect skill set for the DEL or even Sweden and his size would not be as much of a hinderance.

[Hockey_Ninja]

Not shocked he followed Love to Washington. Wish Philly the best of luck. Hopefully he can be a consistent NHLer

[Wood]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Mind boggling how some have just assumed this guy was an NHLer all along and (for some unknown reason) the Flames just held him back even when trying to improve their team. Including the new head coach who had him in the AHL.

Its just really odd.

Huska never had Phillips in the AHL

I think most people understand he's not a sure thing and his size is an issue, but the frustration for fans comes from never getting to see a home-grown local kid get an opportunity at the NHL level

Phillips couldn't have done anything more to earn an opportunity. He may never turn into an everyday NHLer but we can't know that for sure because the Flames never gave him a chance

[Reggie Dunlop]

Originally Posted by mile

Weird. Haven't seen any Phillips signing listed on Puckpedia or Capfriendly yet

No tweets about this either

Okay, it's official now.

[sureLoss]

Official.

Got a 1 year 1 way contract at NHL minimum salary of $775k

https://twitter.com/user/status/1675550346314121217

[Spurs]

Originally Posted by Wood

Huska never had Phillips in the AHL

I think most people understand he's not a sure thing and his size is an issue, but the frustration for fans comes from never getting to see a home-grown local kid get an opportunity at the NHL level

Phillips couldn't have done anything more to earn an opportunity. He may never turn into an everyday NHLer but we can't know that for sure because the Flames never gave him a chance

No NHL team gave him a chance, not just the Flames.

He passed through waivers, any team could have had him for free. He was clearly not in the plans of the Flames, any team could have traded for him for a low cost.

If Phillips was close to the player that people thought he would have more chances in the NHL than he has, that is on him the player not the Flames as a team.

Can alll the Phillips never had a chance explain what benefit the Flames get from holding down a good player? Why would multiple people work so hard to prevent a player that can help their team win not play when we have seen how important it is for the team to squeak out any point possible to just get to 8th?

[ComixZone]

Good for Phillips, and I hope he finds success and makes this team look silly for how they handled him.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1675550503420272642

Misread the tweet originally.

[colbym72]

If the flames want him back they can just claim him on waivers in September

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

Flames were only offering a 2-way deal...

Good for Phillips, and I hope he finds success and makes this team look silly for how they handled him.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1675550503420272642

Didn't say 2 way. Said the Flames were offering 2 years.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by Lanny_McDonald

Seven training camps. Multiple head coaches to impress and earn a roster spot. Never showed up when it mattered. That's on the player.

He could have led the AHL in scoring and Sutter would not have given him a shot. Having the same guy who refuses to play you for your 23 and 24 year old seasons would be tough for any player. Not making it as a 18 year old is on Matthew though, you are right on that.

[TheScorpion]

Flames were also offering a one-way deal.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by Wood

He may never turn into an everyday NHLer but we can't know that for sure because the Flames never gave him a chance

SEVEN training camps. Do you know how many players get released after their ELC? Phillips was more than rewarded for his time with the Flames' organization and was afforded more opportunity than most players get. I really wish people would stop with this goofy "he didn't get a chance" mantra, because it isn't true. Show me another prospect that lasted five seasons in the minors with the Flames. Phillips got more opportunity than most prospects drafted by the Flames in the past 20 years! Seven training camps is an amazing opportunity afforded to a player by ONE team.

[agulati]

I was hoping he would get a fair crack this year.

[dino7c]

So no 2-4 million like that one poster said

[dino7c]

He either makes their roster or is on waivers correct?

I doubt the Flames would claim him at that point

[ResAlien]

Oh shoot that’s bad news for the Heat. Hopefully they can replace his production internally

[Spurs]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

He could have led the AHL in scoring and Sutter would not have given him a shot. Having the same guy who refuses to play you for your 23 and 24 year old seasons would be tough for any player. Not making it as a 18 year old is on Matthew though, you are right on that.

Anyone in the league could have easily added him if it was just a case of Sutter holding him back.

Treliving needs cheap options to fill out his roster and would have seen his greatness, didn't seem to have any interest to beat a one year minimum deal.

The great Craig Conroy would have seen his greatness being held back by Sutter, could have offered him a great deal to keep him here and only offered a low level amount with perhaps 2 whole years on offer.

How people can see the league had no interest in him and still try to pretend it was the coach or team that held him back is beyond me.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

Good for Phillips, and I hope he finds success and makes this team look silly for how they handled him.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1675550503420272642

Misread the tweet originally.

Good for Phillips. He's playing this smart. He knows he will have an advocate on the Caps staff and Love may be able to talk the other coaches into keeping him. It's all up to Phillips to perform and turn some heads. I hope he likes chocolate.

[agulati]

Originally Posted by Lanny_McDonald

SEVEN training camps. Do you know how many players get released after their ELC? Phillips was more than rewarded for his time with the Flames' organization and was afforded more opportunity than most players get. I really wish people would stop with this goofy "he didn't get a chance" mantra, because it isn't true. Show me another prospect that lasted five seasons in the minors with the Flames. Phillips got more opportunity than most prospects drafted by the Flames in the past 20 years! Seven training camps is an amazing opportunity afforded to a player by ONE team.

The last two training camps (Age 23 and 24) are usually the time most lower round picks tend to make the main roster though. Both camps were under Sutter.

Not many people are expecting a star. Just someone who potentially could have shown NHL potential if given the opportunity in the NHL. Plus he is a local kid and someone whose odds were always low due to his size. That generally gets support from fans, myself included.

Wish him all the best in Washington. The fact that he had a 2 year 1 way contract offer from Calgary but chose to leave sucks, but wish him all the best in making the NHL

[StrykerSteve]

Originally Posted by colbym72

If the flames want him back they can just claim him on waivers in September

Savage, lol.

That said, Phillips is dead to me. Enjoy the US.

Conroy has my full fan support to keep focusing on guys that actually want to play here.