For whatever reason, smaller players have a tendency to slide in the NHL Draft. While in the past teams like the Calgary Flames would have seen this trend as proof that players 5’10” or shorter were cursed or made of bees, more recently the Flames have seen this market inefficiency and jumped all over it. That’s a good thing, too, because the small guys they’ve drafted can straight-up score.
In 2011, they got Johnny Gaudreau. In 2015, they got Andrew Mangiapane. And in 2016, they drafted Calgary-born Matthew Phillips. In two seasons since being drafted, Phillips has put up 98 goals and 202 points, served a year as captain of the Victoria Royals, and signed a contract with the Flames. He’s on the cusp of starting his pro career – though technically he could go back for an overage year in the WHL – and we caught up with him at Flames development camp.
When we spoke this time last year, you didn’t have an NHL contract and you were still trying to make an impression in this organization. Are you pleased with how your last year has gone?
Yeah. I knew going into this season it was going to be pretty important. Obviously trying to earn a contract and I was fortunate enough that it worked out. It was a good year. I developed a lot and being a 19-year-old player and a captain there was a lot asked of me day in and day out, I think that helped me grow a lot.
Do you feel like you’re going to be a pro hockey player this year, or is that still up in the air?
I think a bit of that is in my control and a bit of it is out of my control, due to strictly numbers and how many guys they have on the roster. I feel like I’m hopefully ready. I’ve had three good years in junior. That’s my goal, this whole summer, focused on playing pro hockey.
The NHL roster seems pretty close to set, but the AHL roster is going to be competitive, too. It’s probably the first time since you were 16 or 17 that you don’t have set role heading into a season. Is that exciting? Terrifying? How does it feel?
That’s a really good point. I mean, especially they signed a lot of forwards last week. There’s a lot of competition, but I think that’s good. When guys are forced to compete, it gets the best out of them. I guess it’s kinda similar to when I was trying out for junior, and kinda makes you demand to be better every single day, get better and show well when you’re on the ice and off the ice. I think it just makes everyone better in that situation.
Do you have a preference between playing center or on the wing?
I think I’m pretty comfortable wherever the coach tells me to, but I played wing in junior but I played center growing up. I think I’m comfortable wherever but if I had to choose I’d say wing.
How did your NHL deal come together?
It happened really quick. Honestly, we played in Kelowna, I don’t know if Dubes beat us or not. [Editor’s note: the Rockets beat Phillips’ Royals 3-2 in a shootout, but Dillon Dube was away at the World Juniors.] We played in Kelowna, my agent came up and told me they kinda had it figured out. It was pretty out of the blue. Actually the next day I ended up signing it on the bus on my phone. I had the copy/paste on the bus and sent it while we were headed to Kamloops. It’s kinda a funny story but, yeah, it happened pretty quick.
Johnny 2.0.
Tkachuk-Lindholm-Phillips in a couple years will be FUN
Hopefully he’s like Johnny G., but gets more goals than assists. Phillips for Rocket Richard?
Thank goodness the goalie discussion is behind us.
I’ve lived in Victoria for the past year and had the opportunity to watch Phillips on a few occasions. Johnny Hockey is small but MP is downright little!!
…And (as a junior) he was downright lethal!!
Not afraid to try anything, anywhere on the ice. Will go into the dirty areas…has speed to burn…and will get fans out of their seats!!
I doubt that he will ever have a complete 200 ft game and I hope the offense can transfer to pro hockey. The only way he will succeed is in a top 6 role and pp specialist.
I’m not sure if he will play for the Flames at sometime (because of his size) but “never say never”. As Gaudreau is a “special player”, so too is Matthew Phillips…
Any reason why he can’t play a 200 ft game? Is it just his size?
The NHL game is changing, there is more room for skill throughout the line up. The good teams have 4 lines that can play. No room for plugs anymore.
Bring on the young bucks to work alongside the proven pros! I like the Flames farm depth that hopefully will help the main core realize they need to work hard to keep their positions. We need to get back the (Hartley) work ethic that this team has lost since the playoff run of 2015.
Interesting rumors that Calgary is taking a lot of calls on Sam Bennett. Could of course be nothing given the source but you never know. Could be Phillips takes his spot?
I’d be calling too. Amazing contract, great potential…give him someone to finally play with and watch him soar!
Sam is what he is. If Tre thinks Dube or Klimchuk or YeastMode can take 3LW, Sam is decent trade bait.
Sam is a guy you need for the playoffs. Edgy and annoying. He may always take bad regular season penalties but his style is what you need for the second season.
I would keep him.
I wouldn’t move Bennett now, Unless Baby Byng is coming our way…..!
I think Bennett is from the Ottawa area.
And Stone of course….
WW
I think it would take more than Bennett to get Baby Byng, probably Kylington as well. Would be an interesting move. People that say Ottawa would never do it I would disagree. The Turris trade is the mirror image of what Bennett situation is. Turris had even worse NHL numbers than Benny in his first 3 years with Phoenix, Turris was traded at the age of 22, same as Benny now, 3rd over all pick & then went on to be Ottawas #1 Centre. Ironically, it was Maloney & Tre in Phoenic that agonized over that trade that blew up on them, getting a 2nd & Runblad in return. Thinking about it, maybe Stone with us eating 1.5 mill & Benny for Baby Byng is a fair deal. Might be an easy sell job to Ottawa. After they trade Karlsson & then Stone later in the year they will be rebuilding, who knows.
Sorry you lost me. Who’s “yeastmode”?
mangiapane.
Eklund by chance??
Yes
Sources?
Who will be top 6 in Stockton?
Lazar and Brouwer.
I think people trashed you for having them in the Heat’s top 6
I like Troy’s leadership qualities and Curtis is a nice guy. Top 6 material.
I love Matthew Phillips!
I had a chance to chat with him a couple of seasons ago, when the Royals were taking the Ferry ride over to Vancouver.
He’s a really humble, upbeat person. It’s interesting that he made the comment of being professional on and OFF the ice. He exemplifies that.
He’s like your neighbour next door and conducts himself in a way that endears you to him. No airs, no attitude. Just a nice kid who loves hockey and wants to be successful.
He’s my favourite prospect, probably because of his diminutive stature and his willingness to do whatever it takes to make the team, whether it’s Stockton for now, or Calgary in the near future.
Go get em’ Matty!
I’m totally in lala land right now, but it would be awesome if he could be that lethal goal scoring guy on a team’s second line (Laine, Kessel, etc.). Someone who gets loads of offensive zone starts, and can put the puck in the net. A scorer who forces teams to have two solid scoring lines to contend with (something many of us on here are hoping can happen next season).
Anyways, I just see lots of potential with this guy, and hope he can translate it to pro hockey.
If he can find a way to minimize the physical disadvantage, he has all the tools to be an amazingly skilled goal scorer. He’s gonna have to keep getting more and more crafty to get to that point though. I really hope they get him into Stockton’s top 2 lines this season.
Well no matter how skilled he’s been he’s always been cut last minute from the WC teams just due to his size.
and that was a big mistake
…Because they won gold?
Phillips is listed as 5’7″ and 140 lbs. He could be a tough guy to contain on the PP or in OT with the extra room.
Yeah. I think the 140 is more of an issue than the 5’7″. He’s mentioned before his trouble with gaining weight. Sometimes it just takes getting older to be able to do it haha. But here’s hoping he can gain some weight/muscle this year!
There is no ruling saying that we couldn’t outfit him with a weight vest. Might slow him down a bit and he might not be able to pull himself up off the ice but it would solve his apparent ‘weight’ issue.
Yeah, a little humour in the summer doldrums is great.