Morgan Frost, the 24-year-old forward, has officially signed a two-year contract with the Philadelphia Flyers worth a total of $4.2 million, per NHL.com. The deal carries an annual average value of $2.1 million and marks a significant step in Frost’s career.
Frost, a restricted free agent, was a key contributor to the Flyers’ lineup last season, finishing fourth on the team with an impressive 46 points, which included 19 goals and 27 assists. He was especially effective at even strength, leading the team with 41 even-strength points.
The Flyers initially selected Frost in the first round of the 2017 NHL Draft as the 27th overall pick. Since then, he has demonstrated his value on the ice, amassing 69 points from 26 goals and 43 assists across 158 games.
Frost’s journey to this point has had its share of challenges and highlights. After a groin injury affected his performance during the Flyers’ training camp, he started the 2019-20 season with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, the Flyers’ AHL affiliate. In his first 16 games there, Frost showcased his skills with five goals and seven assists.
However, the Flyers encountered a rough patch that prompted coach Alain Vigneault to make changes to his offensive lines. This led to Frost’s call-up to the NHL on November 18, 2019. He made his NHL debut the following day and notched his first career goal. Despite a promising start, Frost experienced a 16-game scoring drought and was later sent back to Lehigh Valley in December.
Frost’s resilience shone through as he received an invitation to the 2020 AHL All-Star Classic as the Phantoms’ sole representative. He continued to excel with 13 goals and 29 points in 41 games for the Phantoms. Unfortunately, the AHL season was suspended and ultimately canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 2020-21 NHL season brought new opportunities for Frost, who initially began as a bench player for the Flyers. However, an injury to Sean Couturier in the second game of the season opened the door for Frost to take on the role of the top-line center. Vigneault’s decision aimed to leverage Frost’s abilities while maintaining the chemistry of the other established offensive lines.
Tragically, Frost’s season took a turn when a hit from Jake McCabe of the Buffalo Sabres resulted in a dislocated left shoulder, sidelining him for the remainder of the season. He participated in just two games that season.
Frost dedicated the 2021 offseason to rehabilitating his shoulder injury, striving to secure a spot on the Flyers’ roster during training camp. However, on October 6, he was among the players sent to the Phantoms as part of preseason roster cuts. Despite this setback, Frost made a strong impact in the AHL, recording 15 points in the first 16 games of the Phantoms’ season.
Now, with this new two-year contract in hand, Morgan Frost looks forward to making a significant contribution to the Philadelphia Flyers in the upcoming seasons.
