Matthew Phillips on waivers

With Sonny Milano's impending return against Montreal on Saturday, the Capitals were forced to make a roster move. Thus, the Matthew Phillips experiment seems to be coming to an end. And not a moment too soon.

Phillips is the definition of a tweener, a highly prized commodity who can contribute meaningfully to an AHL roster, helping drive the prospect pool to a deep playoff run, and fill in spots on the NHL roster when the need arises. Much like longtime Hershey Bear and Calder Cup Championship mainstay Chris Bourque, Phillips is undersized for the pro game, so he has to outwork the competition, often surprising them with his speed and skill in tight spaces. This works for a time. However, the Capitals are ostensibly a playoff contender, so the whole roster should be working hard. Hard work is not a distinguishing trait. Not anymore. 

 

Phillips is not as skilled as Alex DeBrincat, nor is he as gritty as Brendan Gallagher. He does not play center, nor does he penalty kill. He is a talented forward who can score when called upon, and is often streaky, but he cannot drive play and is not a difference maker by himself. Thus, he is at best a middle six forward. A poor man's Conor Sheary, whom he was supposed to replace, kinda.

But the Capitals are not a middle six forward away from the playoffs. There have been no games that the Capitals would have won had Phillips been given more ice time.

It is good that Phillips was given an honest shot, as he played on all four Caps lines at some point this season. He was also given a one-way contract for the first time, so he will earn significantly more than he ever has, regardless of what happens. As fans of the players (labor), we support this. 

 

Ideally, Phillips will go unclaimed and will help Hershey repeat as AHL champs. The second best (most reasonable? ehhh maybe not) outcome also involves him going unclaimed, but coming up as a black ace for a Capitals playoff run. Worst case is he gets claimed, but he would again have to be waived to be sent to their AHL team, giving him perhaps another chance to stick.

All this to say that Mike Sgarbossa, whom the Caps waived in October in order to send him to Hershey, where he has dominated again, remains on the NHL roster. With the trade rumors surrounding Nic Dowd, Nick Backstrom's tenure on LTIR, and Evgeny Kuznetsov's involvement in the NHL PA's Player Assistance Program, plenty of questions remain down the middle. Assuming the Caps move Dowd, Dylan Strome and Connor McMichael would be the two remaining centers. Thus, keeping Sgarbossa around, even with Hendrix Lapierre's waiver-exempt status, may be foreshadowing of more moves to come.