One of the former Washington Capitals who was still on the NHL free agency market has found a new home. Forward Matthew Phillips, who was a part of Washington’s system for two stints during the 2023-24 season, signed a one-year contract with the Colorado Avalanche. Phillips was originally drafted by the Calgary Flames in the sixth round (166th overall) of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.
Matthew Phillips Traveled Through Waivers in 2023-24
Matthew Phillips joined the Capitals as a free agent back in July of 2023. Prior to signing with Washington, he had spent the majority of his Flames tenure in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Stockton Heat. He made his NHL debut with Calgary during the 2020-21 season and played in two other games for the Flames in 2022-23, going pointless in all of them.
Phillips did a little bit of traveling around during this past campaign. He played in 27 games for the Capitals. During that time, he scored a goal and provided four assists for a total of five points. Washington then placed Phillips on waivers, where he was then claimed by the Pittsburgh Penguins. While a member of their team, he suited up in three games and did not register a point. Then, weeks after Pittsburgh grabbed him off waivers, the Penguins placed Phillips on waivers themselves. Then-Capitals GM Brian MacLellan reclaimed the winger and he was back in Washington’s system.
The rest of Phillips’ 2023-24 season was mainly spent in the AHL with the Hershey Bears. He played in nine games for them and notched three goals and three assists. He did play in one more game for the Capitals as well, and went pointless in it. Phillips now heads to the Avalanche ahead of the 2024-25 season.
Capitals Have New Depth for 2024-25 Team
The depth on the Capitals had changed earlier this offseason. MacLellan brought in nice depth additions like Taylor Raddysh and Brandon Duhaime. Raddysh previously played in the NHL for the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Chicago Blackhawks. He came to Washington on a one-year deal for $1 million. Last season for Chicago, Raddysh scored five goals and registered nine assists for 14 points in 73 games. In his entire career, he has 36 goals and 37 assists for 73 points in 225 NHL games.
As for Brandon Duhaime, he signed a two-year deal with Washington. He spent last season between both the Minnesota Wild and the Colorado Avalanche. While with the Wild, he suited up in 62 games and scored four goals and collected four assists for eight points. Then, during his brief time with the Avalanche, he scored a goal and produced four assists for five points in 18 games. He also had a goal for Colorado in 11 playoff games during the 2024 postseason.
Matthew Phillips may be officially gone from the Capitals again, but MacLellan took care of the depth aspect of the forward ranks. Raddysh and Duhaime help strengthen a forward group that already added so much skill by acquiring Pierre-Luc Dubois and Andrew Mangiapane. Time will tell how many games Raddysh and Duhaime play in, as Phillips was only in the lineup for Washington a total of 28 times last season. Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery will see what he has in both new players, once training camp and the preseason arrive.
