The Calgary Flames entered the 2025 NHL Draft with a clear organizational need: centers. And they addressed it early and often-grabbing Cole Reschny at 18th overall, Cullen Potter at 32, and Swedish pivot Theo Stockselius at 54.
But by the time their fourth pick rolled around-80th overall in the third round-they shifted gears. That’s where Mace’o Phillips came in.
Phillips is hard to miss. At 6-foot-6 and 230 pounds, he brings a physical edge that jumps off the ice sheet.
A left-shot defenseman with a shutdown mindset, Phillips spent two years with the U.S. National Team Development Program before joining the USHL’s Green Bay Gamblers for the 2025-26 season.
And while he’s not the kind of blueliner who’ll light up the scoresheet, he’s showing signs of growth in the offensive zone.
Let’s start with the basics: Phillips was the defensive conscience on a USNDP blue line filled with puck-movers. He wasn’t there to rack up points-he was there to stabilize, to take on tough minutes, and to make life miserable for opposing forwards. During his time with the USNDP, he posted modest offensive numbers-four points in 2023-24 and three in 2024-25 during USHL play-but his role was never about flash.
Fast forward to this season in Green Bay, and there’s been a noticeable uptick. Through 28 games, he’s already notched seven points, doubling his previous points-per-game rate.
It’s not a breakout, but it’s a step. And for a player whose calling card is physicality and defensive reliability, that’s exactly the kind of incremental progress you want to see.
But let’s talk about that physicality-because it’s a defining part of Phillips’ game. He hits hard, plays with an edge, and doesn’t shy away from confrontation.
That edge has made him a penalty-minute magnet. He led the USNDP’s Under-17 squad in PIMs in 2023-24, did the same for the Under-18s in 2024-25, and now leads Green Bay in the same category-by a wide margin.
League-wide, he’s fourth in the USHL in penalty minutes, and he’s already served two suspensions this season for fighting-related incidents.
But here’s the thing: these aren’t the kind of penalties that come from being out of position or lazy. They’re rooted in aggression-roughing, fighting, interference, cross-checks, elbows.
In other words, he’s not taking shortcuts; he’s playing on the edge, and sometimes over it. That’s a fine line to walk, but it’s also part of what makes him effective.
He’s a tone-setter. A presence.
Phillips is set to take his game to the NCAA next season, joining the University of Minnesota as a 19-year-old freshman. And while he’s still a work in progress, there’s a lot to like.
He’s already shown he can anchor a pairing alongside more offensively inclined partners. He’s handled tough assignments against elite competition at international tournaments, helping Team USA earn silver at the 2023 Under-17 Hockey Challenge and bronze at the 2025 Under-18 World Championship.
The next step? Refining his game.
If he can continue to develop his offensive instincts-just enough to keep opponents honest-and learn to channel his physicality without spending quite so much time in the box, the Flames may have something here. He’s not a finished product, and he probably won’t be for a while.
But the tools are there. The size is there.
The edge is there. And the upside?
It’s real.
Phillips isn’t going to turn into a flashy, point-producing defenseman overnight. That’s not his game.
But if he can evolve into a reliable, hard-nosed, shutdown presence who can chip in a bit offensively and play heavy minutes, he could fill a valuable role on Calgary’s blue line in the future. He’s a long-term investment-but one that could pay off in a big way.