As a 16-year, 1,000-game, NHL defenceman in his day, Royals' second-year assistant coach Doug Bodger reckons young Phillips has the goods.
"Matthew's one of those guys you really do not like to defend,'' says Bodger. "He's so quick and can turn so fast … if you kind of let your guard down, even a bit, he can beat you.
"You see this small guy coming down on you and you figure: 'OK. Good. Got him.' Not necessarily. He takes one step one way and two another and he's behind you.
"Not everyone has that ability, believe me. Matthew does. And he's a worker.
"He reminds me of Cliff Ronning. Cliffy wasn't a big guy and playing in the Western League back in the day, it was a lot rougher, tougher to get through traffic to make plays, score goals.
"Cliffy got hit, got beat on, but he kept going.
"That's my message to Matthew: You're going to get it but it's how you take it that counts.
"I think he has the right attitude. He knows he's going to take some shots but he's got a bit of grit, a little feistiness, to him, which I like.
"It's just a matter of believing in himself. If he does that, he'll be there."
On the junior level this coming year, after sniping 50, what on earth does a fella do for an encore?
"Numbers, the more you think about them, the more you struggle,'' Phillips replies. "I try not to pay attention to goals and points so much.
"This year, the thing I want is to be an overall go-to guy - in the defensive zone as well as offensive zone. I'll be one of the older guys on the team which is gonna be weird but a leadership role is something I want to grow into more this year.
"Junior hockey is a really good level but it's not the AHL or the NHL. I have a big advantage in that I spend my summers here in Calgary with RvA (strength and conditioning guru Ryan van Asten) and the training staff, that I'm on the ice with all the guys.
"I know it's a process.
"I know I'm not going to wake up tomorrow and be in the NHL.
"But one day, I hope to wake up and be there."
Until then, there are goals to score, tweaks to be made, leadership skills to be honed and hopefully a World Junior tournament to be waged.
The kid with the new bobblehead aims to keep right on turning heads.
"I think I've got a box of those bobbleheads waiting for me in Victoria,'' admits Phillips, somewhat sheepishly. "Family and friends have been asking.
"Like I said, kinda funny but pretty cool. Doesn't happen every day. I don't know if I'll ever have a bobblehead of my own again.
"So I imagine I'll be keeping a couple."