The era of Matthew Phillips in Pittsburgh seems to have reached its conclusion as the Penguins have placed the diminutive forward on waivers today.
Phillips, who appeared in three games for the Penguins since being claimed on waivers last month from Washington, failed to register a point. Struggling to find space to maneuver, he has remained on the fringes of the roster, serving as a healthy scratch since February 22nd.
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While the end for Phillips was anticipated, it marks the beginning of roster movements for this week. It is widely expected that the Capitals will reclaim Phillips and assign him to the AHL. Of greater significance for the Penguins is the impending trade deadline on Friday. Any players not on the AHL roster by that date cannot participate in AHL games for the remainder of the season. Hence, it was imperative for the Penguins to part ways with Phillips, shedding his cap hit and clearing his roster spot.
Placed on NHL waivers today: Joel Hanley (DAL), Aaron Dell (LA) and Matthew Phillips (PIT).
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) March 4, 2024
This will create valuable space for the Penguins, although the 23-player maximum remains in effect until Friday. With Phillips occupying a spot, Pittsburgh currently sits at the maximum. Removing him from the NHL roster will provide some breathing room.
While not a flashy move, it could signal forthcoming changes as the Penguins are expected to make roster adjustments in the coming days. Social media is likely to be abuzz with discussions of exploring all options, with players such as Jake Guentzel, Reilly Smith, Lars Eller, Chad Ruhwedel, and Alex Nedeljkovic speculated to be potential trade candidates by Friday.
The sense is the Penguins after that road trip have a very clear sense of what needs to be done before Friday's deadline. And charting a course accordingly. Exploring all options with view to bolster the club for the future. Hearing there's 6-plus legit suitors for Guentzel, VGK…
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) March 4, 2024
By freeing up the roster spot held by Phillips, General Manager Kyle Dubas will have more flexibility to maneuver and potentially acquire NHL talent to balance salaries or bring in new players in the upcoming days.
