Flames re-sign Matthew Phillips (one-year, $750,000)

The Calgary Flames have re-signed a significant piece of their farm team. Per a club release, they’ve signed Matthew Phillips to a one-year, two-way deal worth $750,000 at the NHL level and $140,000 at the AHL level.

Phillips, 24, was a sixth-round selection of the Flames in the 2016 NHL Draft. He’s played one game in the NHL – during the doomed last few weeks of the 2020-21 bubble season – but he’s been an excellent AHL player for the Flames over the past few seasons.

Phillips had one of the best single seasons in Flames farm team history in 2021-22, scoring 31 goals and 68 points over 65 games. He’s not big, listed by the club at 5’7″ and 140 pounds, but he’s been a really, really good piece for the Heat over the past few seasons. He played on the right side of Jakob Pelletier and a rotation of centres (typically Glenn Gawdin or Adam Ruzicka) and was a big reason why Pelletier adapted so successfully to pro hockey.

Phillips’ size will make it a challenge for him to get regular NHL duty, but it also should’ve served as a hindrance for him having the success he’s had in the AHL so far, so we’re not going to bet against him.

Phillips had an arbitration hearing scheduled for July 30, but obviously that won’t be needed now. The Flames have four remaining restricted free agents left to sign: Andrew Mangiapane and Oliver Kylington have arbitration hearings on the books, while Adam Ruzicka and Martin Pospisil do not.

Want to watch the next generation of hockey stars before they make the show? The World Junior Championship is coming to Edmonton and this is your call to grab tickets! Get your tickets here.