Seemingly every year is a pivotal contract season for Morgan Frost but with core members needing new contracts next summer, and a bevy of picks in the first two rounds of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, the Philadelphia Flyers need to decide on Frost, one way or the other.
Philadelphia waited for what felt like forever for Frost to turn into the playmaking wizard, justifying his first-round selection status back at the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. He tore it up in the OHL for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, but fast forward almost a decade later and the Flyers are still waiting for him to have that breakout season. Injuries slowed his development, and inconsistencies once in the lineup led to press box visits, but there have also been times when Frost paced the club offensively – usually at the tail end of the season, ending the year on a high note.
His next deal makes three since his entry-level contract expired. Frost earned a prove-it contract ($800k;2022-2023) and a short-term extension ($4.2mil;2023-2025). Entering his final season of the recent two-year extension, this season should be the one where John Tortorella plugs Frost into the top six. Let Frost make mistakes, then decide if he fits into the future at the end of the season.
For starters, Philadelphia needs to assess its roster and core ahead of a very important summer. In 2025, Frost turns 26, and he is no longer a developing prospect. After agreeing to those two contracts between 2022-2025, Frost could be looking for more security, and it is hard to blame him. Allowing Frost to play his game without the risk of being a healthy scratch, or being benched when he makes a mistake is one thing, but giving him wingers Owen Tippett and Matvei Michkov in a contract season helps underline the decision on his future with the Flyers.
Historically, Philadelphia has a proclivity to change the style of play of some of its skaters. One example is Shayne Gostisbehere when Alain Vigneault tried to reshape him into a two-way defenseman. Sometimes, defensemen are best suited to complement the offense, and Gostisbehere is one type of defenseman the Flyers lacked since his departure. A puck-moving, offensive-minded, legitimate powerplay quarterback was under contract, but not enough in that regime.
Gostisbehere and Vigneault clashed, similarly to Frost and Tortorella. After being called out for his mistakes nightly, Gostisbehere was either relegated down the lineup, benched, or scratched, and the need to secure his defensive game zapped his offense.
There is a certain way to play under Tortorella, and there is no denying it. However, Philadelphia lacked creative offensive skaters for years, and sheltering Frost will not help. But, not all of this is the Flyers’ wrongdoing. They were patient to allow Frost opportunities to develop and turn the corner, playing him in more situations with Tortorella. There are parts of his game to praise, but he still has not put together a consistent 82 games.
Next season is a great experiment with Tippett and Michkov as potential wingers. ‘The Mad Russian’ should change the fortune of Philadelphia earlier than many anticipated. If he performs as many expect, Frost should be one of the many beneficiaries and vice versa.
During a 44-game stretch last season, Frost recorded 34 points (9G, 25A) while maintaining a +5 rating and averaging 16:01TOI. Frost, in his other 27 games aside from that stretch scored seven points (4G, 3A).
In December, Frost became an everyday skater. During the first 28 games of last season, he was a healthy scratch 10 times. Within the 18 games he played during the Flyers’ first 28, Frost posted six points (3G, 3A) and averaged 15:13TOI.
Go back to 2022-2023 when Frost finished as the leading scorer for Philadelphia in the second half of the season, totaling 40 points (16G, 24A) in the final 54 games. Frost was almost pacing at a point-per-game in the final 19 games of 2022-2023 (17 – 8G,9A). Consistency was always the issue, but Frost can handle the workload of a top-six forward.
Showcasing your skill on a near game-by-game basis is what the Flyers need to see as soon as possible. The Cutter Gauthier debacle depleted the center depth in the pipeline. Daniel Brière and Brent Flahr hope Jett Luchanko will replace what escaped Philadelphia when it became clear Gauthier did not want to arrive on Broad Street. If Frost realizes his potential, he will be in business for next season and beyond with a new extension waiting in the balance.
The forward group could improve dramatically with Michkov, the contributions of Tippett and Travis Konecny, and the possible bounce-back campaign from Sean Couturier and Joel Farabee. Those forwards need a playmaker who can set them up at even strength or on the powerplay, where Frost truly shines. Otherwise, another inconsistent season could spell the end of the Flyers and Frost.
Frost does have one more year of RFA eligibility in 2025-2026.
