2022-23 Flyers Player Profile: Morgan Frost
By Scott Cole
Morgan Frost is at a critical point in his career. He just signed an RFA tender with the Flyers this summer. He comes with a lot of expectations that have yet to be met. Could a new head coach and a new system be the key to unlocking his success?
When you look at Frost’s stats, they are somewhat disappointing. And by somewhat, I mean extremely. He was part of the 2017 draft class that gave the Flyers Nolan Patrick and, by way of a trade with the Florida Panthers, Owen Tippett. All three of these guys are still trying to find their place in the league five years later. Frost, in parts of three seasons with the Flyers, has roughly the same amount of points in the same amount of games played as Patrick Brown. That is not good.
However, we have to examine it with a grain of salt. He’s been promoted, sat on the bench as a scratch, and then sent back to the AHL only to be called up again. He hasn’t had a lot of ice time until last year on a garbage team. You can’t ask an untried 22 year old to carry the weight for the team, and he didn’t. He scored five goals and 11 assists. Even at the AHL level, he hasn’t come close to putting up the stats he did in the OHL.
But again, he is a 23 year old. He’s not going to be able to come in and replace Kevin Hayes, Derrick Brassard, and Sean Couturier as a top center after all have gone down with injuries. Alain Vigneault did not seem to be patient or impressed with him. Maybe that hindered his development.
John Tortorella is notorious for not always being patient with young stars. Will Frost thrive under Torts and his system? If Frost can’t make “the jump” this year, is he done? Will he be considered a bust? Between him and Patrick, the 2017 Draft is looking worse and worse.
But if he can finally find that combination of speed and skill he displayed as a kid in Sault Ste. Marie, he can turn it around and become a foundational piece. Everyone says the kid is intelligent and has great ice vision. So, let’s see it.
Turn him loose and see what he can do. If he can contribute, the Flyers will be the better for it. If he can’t, well, they can always cut ties with him at the end of the season or use him as a trade deadline piece.