NHL Draft Prospect Profile: Matthew Phillips

Get to Know Matthew Phillips

Date of Birth: 1/6/1998
Place of Birth: Calgary, AB, CAN
Ht: 5’7″ Wt: 161 lbs
Shoots: Right
Position: Center
Team (League): Victoria Royals (WHL)

Statistics

What Scouts See

Prospect Black Book:

 Matthew is a dynamic offensive player who can impact the game with his vision, compete and puck skills. Although he is not overly big and will need time to mature physically, he plays with a high level of compete and does not back down in the high traffic areas.

Future Considerations:

Phillips is a tiny, but intelligent playmaker with elite offensive capability. He processes the speed of the game very well and operates well when in motion. He is a quick, shifty skater who brings agility, acceleration and the power to escape a check in a blink. He is a very patient player with skilled mitts who is great at anticipating plays and adjusting to produce a better vantage point. Phillips can handle the puck at speed and in traffic.

What BSN Avalanche sees

He’s a dynamic skater that makes the use of his tiny frame as he’s as shifty and elusive as it gets. He’s going to need to be at his size but if he ever experiences a growth spurt he could end up the steal of this draft. He’s flat out awesome on offense and one of the more impressive talents in this draft class.

Simply that size. There’s one thing about simply being undersized, like a Clayton Keller, and it’s another entirely when talking about being historically small. If he can develop a defensive game, which is certainly possible given his try-hard mentality, and he figures out how to avoid physical contact entirely, Phillips could make it work.

Highlights

NHL Potential

Some smaller guys you feel comfortable writing off and some smaller guys you keep in the back of your mind as a potential steal. Phillips, with just one year in the WHL and obviously being the tiny-but-mighty player he is, is that guy in this year’s draft for me. His skating, hands, and overall skill level are simply too high to ignore. If there was ever an heir to the Johnny Gaudreau throne, it’s this guy.

Expected Draft Position

Phillips is ranked deep into this draft. Look for him to top out in the fourth round with the possibility he doesn’t get selected until much later.

How Prospect Fits in Avalanche Organization

If Rick Pracey were still running the Avalanche draft board, this is a guy I would target for the organization. Pracey is in Philadelphia, though, so he’s a guy I’m saying would not be a good fit in Colorado given their desires, especially if they get bold and grab Clayton Keller at 10th overall. His talent would be welcome and he would fill a need but Phillips is just so small I’m not sure the Avalanche would be comfortable taking the chance.