Despite struggles, the Flyers aren’t giving up on Morgan Frost

Credit: © Eric Hartline

No stranger to turbulent times, Philadelphia Flyers forward Morgan Frost has once again found himself in the dog house.

Frost, 25, has just one goal and five assists through 16 games this season with the Flyers; the underwhelming start has landed him in the press box in three of the last four games. The Flyers are 2-1 in the games without Frost.

Entering this season, Frost had a major opportunity to be a premier player for the Flyers. Projected as a top-six center and a fixture of the power play (which has been much improved since years past), Frost was given ample opportunities to seize the moment and cement himself atop the Flyers’ lineup. Unfortunately, things have not gone as planned.

Beyond the (underwhelming) point total, Frost’s game has concerns — concerns that go beyond the Flyers and are present in other teams’ views of him. His awareness and overall play in the defensive zone are concerns, while his lack of “grit,” for lack of better words, leaves a lot to be desired. As one executive mentioned to me, the concerns above make for a worry for coaches in matchup situations.

Despite the lackluster start to the season, there is still hope for Frost to turn his game around with the Flyers. Based on conversations I’ve had over the past few days, the Flyers have not given up on Frost as a part of the future moving forward; I have gotten no sense of the player or team wanting to move on imminently.

Is this to say Frost is untradeable? Of course not, as every one is available for the right price – especially on a rebuilding team like the Flyers. But as a rebuilding team, moving on from centers – especially a team like the Flyers who lack at the position – at 25 years of age is not a decision that is easy or a typically optimal outcome; if it’s to be made, it will be for value and not selling low on an asset.

Speaking with other teams, it doesn’t sound like Frost has a ton of value across the league at this time, which isn’t all that surprising given his struggles. While he is an everyday center in the NHL on most clubs, there is a certain lack of consistency in Frost’s game that could give some teams trepidation as to where he fits in the lineup.

I’ve also heard Frost is very hard on himself and can get in his own head.

All this being said, it should be noted how commendable Frost’s reaction has been to, once again, staring straight in the face of adversity.

Over the last few days, I have heard that Frost’s resiliency has sat well with the Flyers. He has not made a scene off the ice and has done his best to be a good teammate. By all accounts, Frost is loved among his teammates, and his overall character has continued to impress the Flyers’ brass.

So what must Frost do to find his way back into the lineup? A combination of intensity and willingness to get physically engaged, along with performing at his best consistently, is what will pave his fastest way back into a relevant spot in the lineup.

Objectively speaking, Frost still has the upper hand over his center-ice compatriots because of his skill set and the position he plays. Among all centermen in the Flyers organization – both on the roster and throughout the pipeline – there isn’t one who has Frost’s vision and overall offensive creativity. Even in light of all of his struggles and finding himself on the outside looking in recently, Frost’s raw ability and positional advantage does play a part in his organizational standing.

A pending restricted free agent with a $2.1 million AAV, I’ve heard there have been no contract talks between the Flyers and Frost’s camp. The Flyers are still very much open to re-signing the 2017 first round selection, although, barring a major turnaround between now and season’s end, it would most likely be another bridge, short term contract.

The start to the season has not gotten off to a great start, but the book is far from closed on Frost’s future with the Flyers.

Ristolainen Generating Interest

As The Athletic’s Kevin Kurz reported, the Flyers have received calls on defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen. While teams have kicked tires, no offers have been made at this point on the 2013 eighth overall selection. A Western Conference executive pointed out to me last week that teams are still accruing cap space, which could halt the culmination of trades involving heavier cap hits at this point of the season.

As Kurz mentioned, this is not a player the Flyers are simply looking to dump. Ristolainen has played an important role for the Flyers this season, stepping into a top-four role in light of recent injuries to fellow rearguards Emil Andrae, Jamie Drysdale, and Cam York. Though a small sample size, it could be argued that Ristolainen has never looked better during his NHL career. His turnaround over the last 24 months is highly attributed to the work of Flyers associate coach Brad Shaw, who, as Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman mentioned in his 32 Thoughts column, has helped teach Ristolainen’s game up – specifically his stick work.

I’m still led to believe that the Flyers’ desired asking price is a first-round pick for Ristolainen. At a hefty price tag of $5.1 million (and is signed for another two years), the Flyers feel that Ristolainen has played up to the value of his contract. Though that may be true in a vacuum, it may not entice interested teams into taking on the full value of the contract. Though the Ristolainen not being a rental could be tricky for some teams to work financially, it could also make him more enticing with the cost certainty for teams capable of taking him on.

Speaking with one eastern conference executive, the Flyers will likely have to eat money on Ristolainen or take back a contract to get full value via trade. Last season I was told that the Flyers would need to make Ristolainen a $3 million to $4 million player for teams to bite on his deal. While I can’t say for certain one way or another, perhaps Ristolainen’s continued solid play and a rising salary cap may have reduced the amount of his contract the Flyers will need to chew on. While not an ideal outcome, the Flyers are open to retaining salary – but it’ll come at a price.

I haven’t heard what teams have shown interest in Ristolainen, though I can tell you that the Nashville Predators are not among them. Despite being in the market for a top-four defenseman, per Friedman, I’ve been told by several sources that Ristolainen is not a player of interest for the Predators. Speculatively speaking, I have wondered about the Dallas Stars as a potential suitor for Ristolainen, as the right side of their defense is, at least on paper, a potential area of weakness.

Ristolainen, 30, has one goal and two assists through 19 games this season and is averaging 20:32 time on ice per game.

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Despite struggles, the Flyers aren’t giving up on Morgan Frost

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