Phillips doesn’t play a flashy game or marvel with big plays, but he does a good job of effectively moving the puck up ice and facilitating the play. In the defensive zone, he uses his smooth skating to work his way around the zone. He does a good job of angling attackers to the outside and forcing them to drive wide. He has an active stick, consistently disrupting passes and shots with deflections. He can engage physically but he doesn’t go out of his way to seek hits. He uses his big frame along the boards to pin opposing players and move the puck to a safe area. His best tool is his ability to stay calm and collected defensively. He understands the game and does a good job of identifying what he needs to do and reacting.  He does a good job of getting the puck up the ice and out of the defensive zone, pushing the puck up the ice with a pass or with his feet. While he isn’t the type of player to make long passes, he opts for safe passes from one zone to the next. He makes the safe, smart pass which will make coaches love him. playmakers. He has a good shot from the offensive blueline, and he does a good job of moving down into the faceoff circles to ensure that it’s a lot more effective. He acts as a facilitator in the offensive zone rather than a playmaker.

– FCHockey’s 2020 NHL Draft Guide