Minnesota Wild prospect and Saint John Sea Dogs forward Zack Phillips will be a guest on Edmonton's The Pipeline Show tomorrow (Saturday April 14). The show airs from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. CT and is streamed online.
Phillips, the 28th overall pick in the 2011 NHL Draft, was named the CHL Player of the Week for his performance last week in the Sea Dogs' first two wins over Baie-Cormeau. He currently leads the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League in playoff scoring with 23 points (6 goals - 17 assists) - 2 ahead of teammate and fellow Wild prospect Charlie Coyle - in eight games.
Saint John is presently waiting to find out their next opponent after sweeping Baie-Cormeau in four games. The defending Memorial Cup champions are 8-0 in two playoff series this season and looking to be the first repeat winner since Windsor in 2009-2010.
Thoughts on Phillips' appearance is after the jump...
UPDATE (4/14): After a few minutes of hosts Dean Millard and Guy Flaming stalling to find Phillips (which included a discussion on Jack Connolly signing in Sweden), First Round Bust's #6 Minnesota Wild prospect joined the show in their final segment. Some highlights:
Zack went the team route when asked which was more impressive - scoring 23 points in 8 games (for a nearly-unheard of this side of pee-wees 3 PPG) or Saint John averaging 8 goals per game in their 8 QMJHL playoff wins.
At the same time, he was fine with some Sea Dogs players being sent home to refresh (this seems to be a big story in Canada) while awaiting their next opponent. Phillips did admit, however, that whoever they play will be a bigger test after breezing through 2 rounds with 2 sweeps.
"A little bit," Zack said. "I think it's a good thing our team has. We know the first two rounds, these were 2 good teams but this round will be tougher."
He admitted, however, that the defending Memorial Cup champions are trying to play their own game and hasn't paid much attention to what other teams are doing throughout the CHL.
"We haven't really adjusted for a team in 3 years," said Phillips.
The 28th overall pick in the 2011 NHL Draft enjoys playing on a line with fellow Minnesota Wild prospect Charlie Coyle and Stanislav Galiev. The three lead the Q with points - ahead of #3 overall pick Jonathan Huberdeau - and have developed great chemistry.
"We roll with each other," Zack said about Charlie Coyle. "He is a big body, he has a big body presence in front of the net that makes it easier to set up."
All in all, it was a good interview. There's a lot of fluff, which is to be expected in anything involving hockey players trying to avoid ruffling feathers, but Phillips gives great insight on playing with Coyle that any Minnesota Wild fan should check out as a preview down the (pipe)line.
You can listen to Philips' interview here.
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