Chris Phillips Chris Phillips ( born March 9 , 1978 ) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League ( NHL ) . He has been a member of the Ottawa Senators for his entire career , which began with the 1997 – 98 season . He also serves as their alternate captain and is regarded as a stay - at - home defenceman . The Senators drafted him first overall in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft . He was raised in Fort McMurray , Alberta . Playing career . Fort McMurray Oil Barons . Phillips began his junior career with the Fort McMurray Oil Barons of the Alberta Junior Hockey League in 1993 - 94 , where he had six goals and 22 points in 56 games . In 10 playoff games , Phillips had three assists . He returned to the Oil Barons for the 1994 - 95 season , in which he saw his offensive production increase to 16 goals and 48 points in 48 games . In 11 post - season games , Phillips had four goals and six points . Phillips also participated in the 1995 Canada Winter Games where he was the captain of the Alberta team . Prince Albert Raiders . Phillips joined the Prince Albert Raiders of the WHL for the 1995 - 96 season , where he had 10 goals and 40 points in 61 games as a rookie with the Raiders . Phillips helped the Raiders to the Conference Finals , as he had two goals and 14 points in 18 games . After the season , Phillips won the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy and he was drafted first overall in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft by the Ottawa Senators . The Senators assigned Phillips back to the Raiders for the 1996 - 97 , and in 32 games , he had three goals and 26 points . The rebuilding team traded Phillips to the Lethbridge Hurricanes midway through the season . Lethbridge Hurricanes . Phillips finished the 1996 - 97 season with the Lethbridge Hurricanes , where he had four goals and 22 points in 26 games , helping the club finish in first place in the Central Division . In the playoffs , Phillips finished second in team scoring with 25 points , as he had four goals and 21 assists , to help Lethbridge win the President ' s Cup , and earn a berth at the 1997 Memorial Cup held in Hull , Quebec . In the Memorial Cup , Phillips had two goals and five points in five games , as the Hurricanes finished in second place in the tournament , as they lost to the Hull Olympiques in the final game . Phillips was selected to the Memorial Cup all - star team , and won the 1996 - 97 Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy , which is awarded to the top defenseman in the WHL . Ottawa Senators . Phillips made his NHL debut in the 1997 - 98 season , when he appeared in 72 games with the Ottawa Senators , scoring five goals and 16 points , helping the club finish above . 500 for the first time in team history . In 11 playoff games , Phillips had two assists , as Ottawa upset the New Jersey Devils in the first round , before falling to the Washington Capitals in the second round of the 1998 Stanley Cup Playoffs . Phillips missed 48 games in the 1998 - 99 , as he scored three goals and six points in 34 games with the Senators , before going pointless in three playoff games . He saw his point total increase during the 1999 - 2000 season , as Phillips had five goals and 19 points in 65 games . In six playoff games , Phillips had an assist . Phillips had another solid season with the club in 2000 - 01 , appearing in 73 games , scoring two goals and 14 points , however , he suffered a late - season injury , in which he appeared in only one playoff game with the Senators . In that game , he scored his first ever playoff goal against Curtis Joseph of the Toronto Maple Leafs . He remained a big part of the Senators blueline in 2001 - 02 , as Phillips scored six goals and 22 points in 63 games . In 12 playoff games , Phillips did not register a point . In 2002 - 03 , Phillips helped the Senators win the Presidents ' Trophy , which is awarded to the team with the best regular season record in the NHL . In 78 games , Phillips had three goals and 19 points . In the post - season , Phillips had a memorable goal for the Senators , as in game six of the Eastern Conference finals against the New Jersey Devils , Phillips scored the overtime winner , as Ottawa fought off elimination . The Senators lost the seventh game , but Phillips had a very successful playoff run , scoring two goals and six points in 18 games . Phillips appeared in all 82 games for the first time of his career in 2003 - 04 , as he scored seven goals and 23 points for the Senators . In the playoffs , Phillips once again had some overtime magic , as he scored the winning goal in the fourth game of the Senators first round series against the Toronto Maple Leafs . Toronto ended up winning the series in seven games , and that goal was Phillips only point of the series . During the 2004 - 05 NHL lockout , Phillips signed with Brynas IF of the SEL , where he had five goals and eight points in 27 games . In nine playoff games , Phillips had a goal and three points . In 2005 - 06 , he returned to the Senators , where Phillips had a goal and 19 points in 68 games . In nine playoff games , Phillips had two goals . Phillips had his best offensive season of his career in 2006 - 07 , as he had eight goals and 26 points as he played in all 82 games . Phillips had a + 36 rating , which ranked him among the top of the NHL leaderboard . Prior to the season , the Senators named Phillips as an alternate captain , and on December 26 , 2006 , Phillips played in his 500th career game . In the playoffs , Phillips played over 23 minutes a game , shutting down the top offensive players of the Senators opponents , as he helped the team reach the 2007 Stanley Cup Finals , where the Senators lost in five games to the Anaheim Ducks . In 20 playoff games , Phillips had no points . In 2007 - 08 , Phillips had five goals and 18 points in 81 games , however , the Senators playoff run was short , as they were swept in the first round against the Pittsburgh Penguins , as Phillips was held pointless in four games . The 2008 - 09 season saw the Senators struggle , as the team failed to make the playoffs for the first time since 1996 . Phillips had another solid season , scoring six goals and 22 points in 82 games , however , he had a - 14 rating , making it the first time since the 1998 - 99 season that Phillips was a minus player . In 2009 - 10 , the Senators returned to the playoffs , and Phillips played a key role , as he tied his career high of eight goals and had 24 points , the second highest point total of his career , and he played in all 82 gaems for the second season in a row . In six playoff games , Phillips had no points . Phillips had a tough 2010 - 11 season , as he scored only a goal and nine points , his lowest point total since 1998 - 99 , and had a - 35 rating , as Ottawa struggled and failed to qualify for the playoffs for the second time in three seasons . International career . Phillips played for Team Canada at the 1996 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships held in Boston , Massachusetts , where he was held pointless in six games , as Canada won the gold medal . He returned to the tournament in 1997 , held in Geneva , Switzerland , where Phillips had an assist in seven games , helping Canada win the gold medal once again . He was named to the 1997 tournament all - star team . Phillips played for the Canadians at the 2000 IIHF World Championship held in St . Petersburg , Russia , where he had no points in nine games , as Canada finished in fourth place . He returned for the Canadian team at the 2005 IIHF World Championship held in Vienna and Innsbruck , Austria , where the Canadians finished with a silver medal . In nine games , Phillips had an assist . Phillips represented Canada again at the 2009 IIHF World Championship held in Bern and Kloten , Switzerland , recording three assists in nine games as Canada won the silver medal . Personal life . Phillips and his wife Erin have three children : a son named Ben and two daughters , Niomi and Zowie . He is the nephew of the Edmonton Oilers radio broadcaster Rod Phillips . Awards . Canadian Hockey League Western Hockey League