The Pittsburgh Penguins have claimed former Victoria Royals forward Matthew Phillips off waivers from the Washington Capitals.
At 25-years-old, Phillips brings with him one goal and five points from his 27 games with the Capitals this season. He remains under contract until the end of the year, with a one-way deal that carries a $775,000 NHL cap hit.
Originally signed by the Capitals on July 1st, 2023, Phillips made his entry into the NHL as an unrestricted free agent after his tenure with the Calgary Flames, where he spent the initial five seasons of his professional career.
Phillips’ journey to the NHL began with the Victoria Royals, where he showcased his talent before moving on to Calgary. He appeared in just three NHL games over two seasons with the Flames before embarking on his chapter in DC as a free agent.
Our guy, Matthew Phillips is off to Pittsburgh to join the Penguins🐧 https://t.co/2C5mMDyYCV
— Victoria Royals (@victoriaroyals) February 16, 2024
The former Western Hockey League’s Victoria Royals star stands 5’8 and just 160 pounds, making him the lightest player in NHL history. Despite his skills, he has always had the odds stacked against him.
Phillips scored 48 goals and 112 points in 71 games with the Royals in the 2017-18 season before turning pro on a full-time basis the following year.
Through 30 career NHL games spread across parts of three seasons with both Calgary and Washington, Phillips has amassed five points.
It remains to be seen whether he’ll be in the lineup for the Penguins, who are missing Jake Guentzel, when they face off against the LA Kings on Sunday.
