Today's Senators report card looks at the most veteran and one of the most maligned members of the club, defenseman Chris Phillips.
PRE-SEASON EXPECTATION
Acknowledged to be on the downside of a pretty decent career, Phillips was around to provide leadership and play in the bottom pairing, with the expectation that he probably wouldn't be in the lineup every night with 8 defensemen on the roster.
WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED
Phillips, for the second straight year, was simply asked to do too much. The absence of Marc Methot for the first half of the season necessitated Phillips playing on the top pair with Erik Karlsson too much and having to log too many minutes.
Phillips missed the last 2 months of the season with an injury and suited up for just 36 games between that and numerous healthy scratches. That was the fewest games he has played in a season, lockouts included, since his second year in the league.
THE HARD STATS
THE FANCY STATS
It was tough to find direct comparables in the Atlantic Division, so these ones are kind of all over the map. In fact there were only 10 defensemen in the league older than Phillips this season, and 8 of them were more of the offensive, skill type guys.
THE "KEY" STATS
Phillips playing 20+ minutes per game was almost unfair to the player. I still think he can give you 10-12 really good situational minutes in a game, but to extend him that long at this point in his career is setting him up to fail.
FUTURE OUTLOOK
Obviously with a year left on his contract, next season is likely the swan song for Phillips, and that is if he doesn't retire before the season. He will undoubtedly spend at least half the time in the press box, and if he is ok with that he is worth keeping around for his experience and leadership in the room. Loyalty does still mean something, and the fact that he has been around for 17 years and will probably play his 1200th game in a Senators uniform next season means something. Trading him or forcing him to retire at this point to get a couple of million off the books for one year isn't worth it. If he is comfortable playing the role he will be expected to play then let him go out on his terms.
GRADE: Expectations were not that high, but he still isn't close to the player he once was. Out of respect for the years he has put in and the fact that he was put in a nearly impossible situation for him to succeed, I will be pretty generous and give him a C- .
On tap tomorrow is one of the players who might not be back, but perhaps one the team will miss the most if he doesn't. That hint might be too easy but gotta throw some softballs once in a while.
If you missed them, check out prior Report Cards: