By the Numbers Prospects: Ethan Phillips

By the Numbers will highlight the on-ice accomplishments in the 2019-20 season for the Detroit Red Wings' prospects. Twice a week during the offseason, By the Numbers will profile a different player in the system, focusing on his statistical highs. This week we focus on forward Ethan Phillips.

When the Red Wings' player development staff visits Boston University, it's one-stop shopping to check on three of their prospects.

Forwards Ethan Phillips and Robert Mastrosimone were freshmen this past season and defenseman Kasper Kotkansalo was a junior.

The Wings took Phillips in the fourth round, 97th overall, in last summer's NHL Entry Draft.

The Dartmouth, Nova Scotia native chose the college route in part because he knew he was going to need some time to develop.

At 5-foot-9, 155 pounds, Phillips is not ready to outmuscle most opponents in the corners.

What Phillips can do is use his phenomenal speed to elude defenders so he can make a play or set up a teammate to do so.

During the 2018-19 season with the USHL's Sioux Falls Stampede, Phillips showed some of the things he is capable of, registering 16 goals and 27 assists in 50 games.

While Phillips was not quite as offensively prolific at Boston University last season, he is expected to be able to come into his own as he matures physically and mentally as a player.

31 - Phillips played in 31 games for the Terriers as a freshman.

3 - Phillips had a three-game assist streak from Dec. 3-Jan. 8, with a helper in a 5-2 win over Harvard on Dec. 3, another assist in a 6-3 win over Northeastern on Dec. 7 and another assist in a 3-2 win over Brown on Jan. 8. Due to injury during the second semester, Phillips also missed three games. On Nov. 1 in a 4-2 loss at Maine, Phillips had a season-high three blocked shots.

2 - Phillips recorded two goals, one in a 6-5 loss at Providence on Nov. 9, 2019 and another in a 5-0 victory over UMass Lowell on Jan. 24. Patrick Curry was first on the team with 19 goals. Phillips also had two assists in his collegiate debut, a 7-3 victory at Union College on Oct. 5.

8 - With eight assists, Phillips was tied with defenseman and fellow Wings prospect Kotkansalo in that category. David Farrance led the team with 29 helpers.

10 - Phillips scored 10 points, which was 10th on the team.

17 - The young forward had 17 total blocked shots, which was ninth on the team. Kotkansalo led the Terriers with 50.

4 - Phillips was not a heavily penalized player, collecting only four minor penalties for eight minutes. Alex Brink led the team with nine penalties for 29 minutes.

42 - Phillips had 42 shots on goal, 10th on the team. Curry led the team with 111 and Farrance was second with 107.

155 - At just 155 pounds, Phillips was actually just the second lightest player on the Terriers, four pounds heavier than fellow freshman Domenick Fensore.

Quotable: "Ethan, pretty similar to Mastro(simone) in terms of he's a guy that just needs to put strength on. He's got a slight frame, good skill, really good skater. Can play center, can play wing, he played the majority of the year there at center, especially when they had their injuries. Unfortunately he got hurt there at the end of the year and was out but that doesn't really affect him now. But for him, he just needs a big summer. He's the same as Mastro, he just needs to get strength on to allow what his mind and his skill set want to do on the ice. He's one guy that struggled a little bit in traffic this year and in 50-50 battles. Not afraid to get there but when he did get there, obviously in college you're playing against men and it was difficult for him. I envision him to put a good summer in and having a better year next year." - Shawn Horcoff, director of player development and assistant director of player personnel