Very large right-handed defenceman Phillipe Myers recently signed a one-year, $775,000 contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs. The first question for many Maple Leafs fans is “Who is he?” The second question is “What does he bring to the team?”
Born on January 25, 1997 in Moncton, New Brunswick, Myers has had an interesting hockey career that has seen him move between different leagues and teams. Standing at 6'6″ and weighing 213 pounds, he has displayed his skill and strength at many levels of professional hockey. While he is far from a star defenseman, he has been more than adequate at the position he lands on. And given his size and the fact that he is a right-handed defenseman, he is one of the coveted big guys that many teams look to for effective, physical hockey.
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Last season, in 2023-24, Myers appeared in 61 regular season games with the Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League (AHL) recording four goals, 23 total points and 67 penalty minutes. In five games with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Myers failed to record a point despite recording six shots, eight hits and six blocks. As a new addition to the Maple Leafs, he is expected to attend training camp and will likely spend most or all of the 2024-25 season with the Toronto Marlies of the AHL.
Early junior hockey career The transition to professional hockey
Myers began his junior career with the Rouen-Noranda Huskies of the Quebec Maritime Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) in the 2013-14 season. He steadily improved his game over his four junior seasons, culminating in a breakout year in 2015-16 where he recorded 17 goals, 28 assists and 45 points in 63 games. His performances helped the Huskies win the QMJHL Championship and earned him a reputation as a promising young defenceman.
Myers made his professional debut with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the AHL in 2017-18. Over those two seasons, he played in 103 games, scoring 14 goals and 40 assists. His strong performance in the AHL earned him a call-up to the Philadelphia Flyers of the NHL for the 2018-19 season, where he played in 21 games.
NHL debut and development: Flyers And lightning
Myers' first full NHL season was the 2019-20 season with the Flyers. He played in 50 games and scored 16 points with four goals and 12 assists. He also added four points in 16 playoff games. However, his performance dipped the following season, with Myers scoring just 11 points in 44 games. For the 2021-22 season, Myers was traded to the Nashville Predators. There he played in 27 games and scored four points. Later that season, he joined the Marlies of the AHL, where he added seven points in 16 games.
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Myers joined the Lightning for the 2022-23 season, where he earned three points in 11 NHL games. He spent the majority of the season with the AHL Crunch, earning 29 points in 52 games and two points in five playoff games. Myers will also split time between the NHL and AHL in 2023-24, appearing in five games with the Lightning and 61 games with the Crunch, earning 23 points in the regular season and three points in eight playoff games.
Myers joins the Maple Leafs to strengthen the team's defense
Myers is an attractive option for the Maple Leafs as a big, athletic, right-handed defenseman. General manager Brad Treliving is aggressive in acquiring players like that, and Myers fits the mold of a potential player. Where he lands remains to be seen.
Myers was a dominant force in the AHL and showed signs of success in the NHL with the Flyers. His size and athleticism make him an asset that could add depth to the Maple Leafs' defense. With his big size and athleticism, Myers could provide a cost-effective solution to the team's defensive needs.
The final charm for the Maple Leafs and Myers
Myers hasn't had a smooth road to his NHL career, but his potential and unique cap situation make him an intriguing player for the Maple Leafs. His physical playing style, experience and growth potential could help bolster Toronto's blue line and provide some much-needed depth as they prepare for next season.
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The appeal of Myers to the Maple Leafs organization is obvious. Myers is a big, right-handed defenseman. He's tough and imposing. Exactly the type of player the Maple Leafs have lacked for a long time. Now that Treliving is in Year 2 of the rebuild, it's clear he's focused on unearthing a diamond in the rough, like Simon Benoit. Benoit came on board last season, worked hard and became a regular on the bottom pair. He's the epitome of the imposing defenseman the Maple Leafs have been craving for a long time.
Could Myers be one of those players? They may not be the most expensive players, but they are essential to creating space in front of the opposing team's goal. It remains to be seen how good Myers can be, but fans will find out soon.
