Prospect Info: C Matthew Phillips, 166th overall

[Anglesmith]

Another centre!

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[Ace Rimmer]

He also holds his stick funny.

http://thehockeywriters.com/meet-the-hidden-jewel-of-the-2016-nhl-draft/

 

[herashak]

Kids crazy skilled

 

[ryleyb]

lucky guys

Royals fan here - some thoughts about Phillips.

First, you're going to be pretty surprised when you see him. He is very small. What you'll find though is that he's very fast (right up there in the WHL). He is smart, not afraid to get dirty around the net, and obviously, scores a lot of goals.

Rookie season this year, he played every game (72 GP), and put up 76 points (37G 39A), plus another 8 points in the playoffs.

Pretty damn good for a rookie. If he grows at all or gains some weight, it's all going to be a plus. Expect a bigger year from him next year in Junior too. He was already playing 1st line the whole season, so he's hasn't been "hiding" vs worse defense.

 

[Anglesmith]

I'm gonna call him "Captain Phillips."

 

[ryleyb]

Sorry, forgot to say - WHL Rookie of the Year.

 

[Volica]

I think he's a guy who can project as a 80-100 point guy next year.

 

[Johnny Hoxville]

Love, love this draft!! This was a great pick. We need a line of Mangiapagne, Phillips and Johnny.

 

[n00bxQb]

I really wanted the Canucks to draft him. Small and slight, but goes to the dirty areas. Great at stealing pucks. Extremely clutch. Fast, loads of skill. He kind of reminds me of a cross between Brendan Gallagher and Johnny Gaudreau.

He may be a longshot to make it at the NHL level as his frame is extremely small, so I doubt there's much potential to grow there, but Gaudreau did prove his critics wrong. I don't think Phillips has Gaudreau's level of skill, though.

He's listed as a centre but primarily played RW in my viewings (Forsberg generally centered him and Hannoun on the second line).

 

[western redmen]

Holy, this kid is very spoken as well. Literally zero ums and uhs

 

[Anglesmith]

Courtesy Caged Great:

 

[Tkachuk Norris]

It's like a cross between the McDavid and the Schlemko

 

[Anglesmith]

It's like a cross between the McDavid and the Schlemko

It's like Joe Colborne's shootout move, except Colborne is tall enough he doesn't need to move his body to do it.

 

[Johnny Hoxville]

Not enough hype about the next Gaudreau

 

[TkachuckNotTkaczuk]

Not enough hype about the next Gaudreau

No, he's the next Fleury! haha

 

[OvermanKingGainer]

Not enough hype about the next Gaudreau

I'd like him to be the next MSL personally

 

[SKRusty]

I'd like him to be the next MSL personally

More than likely the next Nigel Dawes.

The kid can shake and bake but these small guys have a really tough haul. I hope for more for him and Mangiapane but the reality is what it is.

 

[Calculon]

Mangipane is 5'10". Short but not that much so. Crosby's 5'11" for example.

Phillips also still has a few more years to grow. If he can reach 5'8" or even 5'9", I think he could end up being the next Cam Atkinson.

 

[Caged Great]

Mangipane is 5'10". Short but not that much so. Crosby's 5'11" for example.

Phillips also still has a few more years to grow. If he can reach 5'8" or even 5'9", I think he could end up being the next Cam Atkinson.

I met his grand parents and they were very short as well, his grand father was only 5-7 or 5-8, so there might not be much more upward growth there.

 

[BigRangy]

back to back games with hat tricks for phillips. he's looking pretty good this year.

 

[Ace Rimmer]

Big game today (1G 4A) for Matty Phillips and he is now leading the team in scoring.

Has he earned a look at the NHL level or is he going to get destroyed up here?

 

[Kranix]

Big game today (1G 4A) for Matty Phillips and he is now leading the team in scoring.

Has he earned a look at the NHL level or is he going to get destroyed up here?

How much beef has he put on his legs?

 

[super6646]

Never forget pospisil>Phillips lol. Just proves my point that pro production is so much more meaningful than beasting as an overager in juniors.

His production has been very comparable to mangiapane in his first two AHL seasons. May need another year or two, but he could be close. Could provide a much needed boost to the middle six if he makes it.

Also funny enough, both players were picked at 166. Just realized that now.

 

[Khrox]

Never forget pospisil>Phillips lol. Just proves my point that pro production is so much more meaningful than beasting as an overager in juniors.

I put Pospisil over Phillips for one reason. Pospisil is the kind of player, who is most likely, going to be a 4th line roleplayer/grinder. At worst, a call-up if a team needs muscle. If I were to compare him to players, he peaks at a Hathaway, and bottoms out at a Lomberg. If he falls in the middle, he'll get a job as a 4th liner on a team that needs depth (even if not as a Flame). Phillips reminds me of a boom or bust pick. He's either going to make it (likely as a second liner), or plays his career in the AHL/Europe. I like Phillips, it's just if I'm putting money on which one has a longer career as an NHL'er, it's Pospisil.

Point stands though, Phillips had a great game, and if he can keep this kind of effort up (even if not necessarily 5 point games, but if he can maintain himself as a force every game) I wouldn't be surprised if he pushes the management team for a call-up (even if it is only a handful of games to give him a taste).

 

[Dack]

I put Pospisil over Phillips for one reason. Pospisil is the kind of player, who is most likely, going to be a 4th line roleplayer/grinder. At worst, a call-up if a team needs muscle. If I were to compare him to players, he peaks at a Hathaway, and bottoms out at a Lomberg. If he falls in the middle, he'll get a job as a 4th liner on a team that needs depth (even if not as a Flame). Phillips reminds me of a boom or bust pick. He's either going to make it (likely as a second liner), or plays his career in the AHL/Europe. I like Phillips, it's just if I'm putting money on which one has a longer career as an NHL'er, it's Pospisil.

Point stands though, Phillips had a great game, and if he can keep this kind of effort up (even if not necessarily 5 point games, but if he can maintain himself as a force every game) I wouldn't be surprised if he pushes the management team for a call-up (even if it is only a handful of games to give him a taste).

People said them same thing about Hunter Smith. Playing a rough game doesn't mean you're going to make the NHL, most 4th liners were excellent players at lower levels, and IMO Pospisil hasn't shown that. His only good season was playing with a 1st round talent in Bobby Brink and he did it a year after most NHL calibre prospects leave the USHL.

I think Phillips will be an NHLer, I said that a few years ago and I stick by it.

Edit: Is Matthew Phillips the RHS power forward we've been looking for since Iggy?