The Penguins placed forward Matthew Phillips on waivers Monday for the purposes of assignment to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports.
This is Phillips’ second time on waivers this season. He’s been claimed once, heading to Pittsburgh from the Capitals last month.
Once an AHL standout in the Flames organization, Phillips has struggled to adapt in his first shot at a full-time NHL role this season. He had one goal and four assists in 27 games with Washington before landing on waivers, and he was a healthy scratch in five straight games for the Penguins after making three consecutive appearances post-claim. He didn’t record a point in Pittsburgh and averaged 11:20 per game, slightly up from his 10:16 average with Washington.
Phillips, 25, inked a one-year, one-way deal with the Caps last summer. He was coming off a second straight AHL season in which he produced over a point per game, notching 36 goals and 76 points in 66 games with the Calgary Wranglers in 2022-23. It appears unlikely he’ll be claimed off waivers a second time this season after failing to impress with two organizations, although he could get a chance to rebuild his value with a strong stretch of play in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
Phillips will be a restricted free agent with arbitration rights at the end of the season, although it seems unlikely Pittsburgh will issue him a qualifying offer to retain his rights. The Calgary native was a sixth-round pick of the Flames in 2016.
A small, first step in what might be the prelude to a fire sale.
Other teams need to want to buy what you are selling
Guentzel is one domino. I wonder if Karlson might be on his way out too…
Doesn’t he have a full no trade clause? I saw some vid where he says he’s a clubhouse leader now [which I find dubious] so I suspect he’s stuck in Pittsburgh for the duration.
No one is going to take on Karlsson. Petterson is more likely. Rust isn’t being moved. Rakell is on a down year so bad time to sell.
PO needs a change of scenery trade.
Was reading local and they are saying it’s possible they move Petterson and use that money to resign Guentzel
No contending team will make a hockey trade to get Karlsson.
I expect Phillips to be in Europe by Fall. I am a Flames fan and many of our fans (not me) thought he was the next Gaudreau, sadly not true