Capitals re-claim Matthew Phillips on waivers from Penguins

The Washington Capitals have re-claimed Matthew Phillips on waivers from the Pittsburgh Penguins this morning.

Phillips has one goal and five points in 27 games with the Capitals this season. The Capitals placed him on waivers back in February, and the Penguins then claimed him, Phillips appeared in three games with Pittsburgh, registering zero points.

The 25-year-old is on a one-year deal that carries an average annual value of $775,000. The Capitals originally signed Phillips on July 1, 2023, as an unrestricted free agent from the Calgary Flames, with whom he spent the first five seasons of his professional career. The Flames selected Phillips No. 166 overall in the 2016 NHL Draft. He would appear in just three games with the Flames throughout his career. Through 33 career NHL games over parts of three seasons with Calgary, Washington and Pittsbugh, Phillips has collected five points.

The Calgary, Alberta native scored 48 goals and 112 points in 71 games with the Western Hockey League’s (WHL) Victoria Royals in the 2017-18 season before turning pro on a full-time basis the following year. During his time in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Stockton Heat and Calgary Wranglers, Phillips established himself as a top-six forward. In the 2022-23 campaign, he notched 36 goals and 40 assists for 76 points in 66 games, he led the Wranglers in goals for a third straight season, assists and points and was ranked fifth in the AHL for points, he was also named an AHL All-Star that year.

Washington currently sits fifth in the Metropolitan Division with a 28-23-9 record and 65 points through 60 games, they sit one point back of the fourth-place New York Islanders. The Capitals will play the Penguins on Thursday, one day prior to the 2024 NHL trade deadline. There is no word yet on whether or not Phillips will draw into the lineup that evening.