The Flyers were in the midst of a youth infused season in 2019-20, before the season was halted due to the Coronavirus. Finally, we were seeing some of the hidden talents that have been stockpiled in various leagues throughout the world trickling into the big club. Of course, young players will make their fair share of mistakes; however, they should learn from them and continue to grow. This young and talented Flyers team will also become a dangerous one in the future with all the depth the Flyers possess. These young players will hopefully share the same successes as The Beatles did with their hit album, “Abbey Road.”
Morgan Frost had some great moments for the Flyers, and hopefully he continues to make this young team a consistent one at the very least defensively now that his number is getting called. Frost really improved tremendously on the defensive side of the puck as he got more chances with the big club last season, and he finished the season strong. This training camp was unlike any other as it was shortened with no exhibition games, but Frost put forth a good camp, and it was his best Camp to date, “I am here to try to make the Flyers and if that doesn’t happen, we will see what management and coaches decide,” Morgan Frost said back at camp, “My goal is to make the Flyers, so that is all that is on my mind right now.”
This young extra forward in Frost continued, “Even just having a year under my belt, just the comfortability of knowing what to expect in camp and playing with some of these guys before, I feel stronger and faster and more comfortable. The off season was good. I think I worked hard. I tried to keep my weight at a point where I liked it and just get stronger and faster. I prepared myself well for the season and I feel good out here.”
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Frost has proven in just his first Professional season that he can push the play, and play with the pace of the game. Yes, Frost was a bit inconsistent at times for the Phantoms (Mainly due to call-ups to the Flyers), however, Frost still finished 29 points in 41 games played (13g, 16a) for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Need I remind you his first NHL goal is a sign of things to come:
The Flyers could really use Frost’s explosive speed, and solid defensive play with the unfortunate injury to Sean Couturier. This is what he needed to show at Camp during scrimmages, and he did that as Camp went along. Everyone knows Frost is very good in practices, and shootouts. However, he had to show how explosive he could be during a scrimmage, and play sound defensively, “I like the way I’ve competed,” Morgan Frost said at camp, “I think I’m moving my feet well. I think the thing for me is to just focus on some of the little details and hopefully the offense will come. I am just trying to focus on being a 200 ft player and the details that the coaches share with us before practice. I think I can do some things offensively, but if I can contribute in other ways it will give me a better chance to make the team.”
Alain Vigneault’s system requires speed and back checking, and that is an area of Frost’s game that has improved the most over the course of the past few seasons. Frost had to work on his first step, and keep his feet moving this past all season. From the videos I reviewed from pundits at camp, to include watching the intrasquad scrimmage, Frost did that. It appeared that what the Flyers were telling him to improve upon sunk in this past off season.
The young 21-year-old will even play any position the Flyers want him to, “I try not to really focus on that stuff too much. There have been different line combinations every day here. There are a lot of good centers here, but there are also a lot of good wingers, defensemen and goalies too. It is a really strong team, and like I said before, I am just trying to do whatever I can to earn a spot wherever it is at what position.”
Make no mistake about it replacing the reigning Selke Trophy winner in Sean Couturier is no easy task, fortunately this maybe a short-term injury to Couturier, and one that Frost makes an impression.
When Ron Hextall was hired as the Flyer’s general manager in May of 2014, he said he would build the Flyers through the draft. He also said it would take five years to become a very good team. His vision was to build a young, dynamic team that would stay highly competitive year after year, by drafting good, even great, prospects and trading older players for high draft picks. This would also help the Flyers manage cap space in order to keep this “home grown” team intact. Young players are not as expensive in their early years.
Ron Hextall was closing in on his five year plan when he was fired in November of 2018. Goaltending did him in, or should we say lack of goaltending. The Flyers used eight goaltenders in the 2018/19 season due to injuries. Hextall got the blame and the pink slip.
The rest of the Hextall story is history. His draft picks have blossomed and many are still developing into future Flyers Even the unpopular trade Hextall made when he traded Brayden Schenn to St Louis for two first round draft picks is now turning into a great trade. Those picks turned into Joel Farabee and Morgan Frost. They are looking like great future players. Yes, Hextall knew what he was doing and the fans of the Philadelphia Flyers are reaping the rewards. Provorov, Sanheim, Myers, Lindblom, Patrick, Hart, Farabee, Konecny, Aube Kubel and so, so many of his prospects still on the way. Hextall kept his promise.
Even when coots comes back frost should stay in the lineup move Laughton to wing on third line and sit jvr insert frost at Center forth line