Morgan Frost

Morgan Frost (born May 14, 1999) is a Canadian professional ice hockey center currently playing for the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League. Frost was drafted in the first round, 27th overall, by the Flyers in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.

Morgan Frost
Frost at the 2020 AHL All-Star Game
Born (1999-05-14) May 14, 1999
Aurora, Ontario, Canada
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 170 lb (77 kg; 12 st 2 lb)
Position Centre
Shoots Left
NHL team Philadelphia Flyers
NHL Draft 27th overall, 2017
Philadelphia Flyers
Playing career 2019–present

Early life

Frost was born on May 14, 1999 in Aurora, Ontario. His father, Andy Frost, served as the public address announcer for the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Air Canada Centre from 1999 to 2016.[1] Frost started accompanying his father to Maple Leafs games around the age of five, and started taking notes on the game during his preteen years.[2] His favorite childhood NHL player was Leafs center Kyle Wellwood.[3]

At age 13, Frost did not make the cut for his local AAA minor ice hockey team, the York-Simcoe Bantams, on account of his diminutive size.[4] John MacArthur, head coach of the AAA team in Barrie, saw Frost's tryout and offered him a position on the Jr. Colts.[4]

Playing career

Junior

Frost was chosen by the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League in the 2015 OHL Priority Selection.[5] He was offered a contract with the Greyhounds at training camp, after the Vancouver Canucks signed Jared McCann and left the team short a center.[4] In his first season with Sault Ste. Marie in the 2015–16 season, Frost scored 7 goals. In his second season, Frost continued his upwards development in scoring 20 goals and 62 points in 67 games for 2016–17.[6] His Greyhounds teammates included Zachary Senyshyn, Boris Katchouk, Tim Gettinger, and Jack Kopacka.[7]

Frost played with the Greyhounds for the 2017–18 season, ending the season with career-highs in goals, assists, and points. At the Greyhounds award banquet, Frost was awarded the Top Scorer award and the Regular Season MVP award by the team.[8] He was later announced as a finalist for the Red Tilson Trophy for the MVP of the OHL.[9]

On February 22, 2019, in a game against the Kitchener Rangers, Frost became the first player to record 100 points in the 2018–19 OHL season, and recorded 300 career points.[10]

Professional

Leading up to the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, Frost was ranked 31st amongst all North American skaters by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau.[11] He boasted a solid performance at the 2017 NHL Scouting Combine, showing particular aptitude in the Wingate test.[12]

In the entry draft, the Flyers traded forward Brayden Schenn to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for the 27th overall draft pick, in which they chose Frost.[13] Speaking about his draft selection, then-general manager Ron Hextall said, "There are very few guys where our whole staff likes the guy, and our whole staff liked this guy. He's an extremely intelligent player and reads the ice well. Good two-way player who showed up good in the testing."[14] Frost was drafted on June 23, 2017 and signed with the Flyers to a three-year, entry level contract on August 3, 2017.[15]

Frost made his professional hockey debut on October 5, 2019 with the Flyers' American Hockey League affiliate Lehigh Valley Phantoms against the Providence Bruins at PPL Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The Phantoms were defeated 3–0.[16]

On November 18, 2019, the Flyers recalled Frost from the Phantoms, with whom Frost had posted 5 goals and 7 assists in 16 games.[17] He made his NHL debut the following night on November 19 against the Florida Panthers at BB&T Center in Sunrise, Florida, scoring his first NHL goal in a 5–2 loss.[18]

On January 3, 2020, Frost was named to the 2020 AHL All-Star roster.[19] When the 2019–20 AHL season was prematurely suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic in North America, Frost made an effort to stay in shape through neighborhood bike rides and training on equipment from his mother's gym.[20] Frost was one of the 31 Flyers allowed to enter the bubble as part of the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs.[21]

After forward Sean Couturier was injured in a game against the Pittsburgh Penguins on January 15, 2021, Frost was called up to his spot, serving in an offensive line with Oskar Lindblom and Travis Konecny.[22] In a January 19 game against the Buffalo Sabres, however, Frost suffered a dislocated left shoulder and was indefinitely placed on the injured reserve list.[23] On February 2, 2021, the Flyers announced that Frost will have surgery on his injured shoulder and is not expected to return in the 2020–21 season.[24]

International play

After not making the cut in 2018, Frost was among those selected by Team Canada for the 2019 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.[25] He recorded a hat trick, as well as two assists, in Canada's December 26 14–0 win over Denmark, and was named Canada's Player of the Game.[26] Frost played the tournament on the wing rather than his usual center, and totaled four goals and four assists across five games.[27]

Playing style

In his own words, Frost is a playmaker with an affinity for assists, preferring to work in tandem with a strong goal scorer.[28] Greyhounds head coach John Dean praised Frost, upon the end of his OHL career, on his ability to lead by example and progress on the 200-foot game.[29] Cory Stillman, former coach of the Greyhounds rivals the Sudbury Wolves, has complimented Frost's puck-handling skills and playmaking abilities.[30] Although he served as a center throughout his junior hockey career, Frost also has experience playing on the wing, and Flyers head coach Alain Vigneault has expressed interest in placing him in both positions.[31]

His comparatively smaller size, standing at 5'11" and weighing 170 lbs, has been a point of concern, limiting his ability to perform physically on the offense.[32][33][34] Frost has made an effort to improve his weight and strength in order to become a stronger offensive player.[35][36]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2015–16 Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds OHL 65 7 20 27 12 12 1 2 3 0
2016–17 Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds OHL 67 20 42 62 36 11 2 6 8 4
2017–18 Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds OHL 67 42 70 112 56 22 10 17 27 26
2018–19 Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds OHL 58 37 72 109 45 11 7 11 18 4
2019–20 Lehigh Valley Phantoms AHL 41 13 16 29 20 — — — — —
2019–20 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 20 2 5 7 4 — — — — —
NHL totals 20 2 5 7 4 — — — — —

International
Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2019 Canada WJC 6th 5 4 4 8 12
Junior totals 5 4 4 8 12

Awards and honours
Award Year
AHL
All-Star Game 2020 [37]

References
  1. Warmington, Joe (29 June 2016). "Andy Frost will be missed as Maple Leafs' PA announcer". Toronto Sun. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  2. Carchidi, Sam (19 November 2019). "Andy Frost, former PA announcer for Maple Leafs, planted seed for Flyers center Morgan Frost's NHL career". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  3. Wheeler, Scott (21 May 2017). "Former Leafs announcer Andy Frost's son, Morgan, grew up at the ACC. Now he's on the cusp of making the NHL". The Athletic. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  4. Donnellon, Sam (21 November 2017). "Flyers prospect Morgan Frost on NHL path thanks to intelligence, feel for the game". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  5. BarrieToday Staff (26 November 2018). "Former 'AAA' Barrie Colt named OHL player of the week". BarrieToday. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  6. Jim Parsons. "2017 NHL Draft: Flyers Pick Morgan Frost #27 Overall". Thehockeywriters.com. Retrieved 2017-06-24.
  7. Meltzer, Bill (24 June 2017). "DRAFT 411: Who is Morgan Frost?". nhl.com. NHL. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  8. "2017-2018 Team Award Winners Announced". soogreyhounds.com. March 17, 2018. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  9. "OHL Announces 2017-18 Awards Finalists". ontariohockeyleague.com. April 4, 2018. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
  10. "Greyhounds' Frost hits two big milestones". Ontario Hockey League. 23 February 2019. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  11. "2017 Draft Prospect Rankings". nhl.com. National Hockey League. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  12. Boylen, Rory (3 June 2017). "2017 NHL Combine results: Top 10 at each drill". SportsNet. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  13. "Flyers trade Brayden Schenn to Blues for No. 27 Morgan Frost, Jori Lehtera, additional draft pick". NBC Sports. 23 June 2017. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  14. Meltzer, Bill (24 June 2017). "DRAFT 411: Who is Morgan Frost?". nhl.com. National Hockey League. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  15. "Flyers sign 2017 Draft Picks Morgan Frost, Isaac Ratcliffe". nhl.com. National Hockey League. 3 August 2017. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  16. "P-BRUINS DEFEAT LEHIGH VALLEY PHANTOMS, 3-0, IN SEASON OPENER". ProvidenceBruins.com. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  17. "Flyers Call Up Top Prospect Morgan Frost to Boost Struggling Offense". November 18, 2019. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  18. "Flyers' Morgan Frost scores first career NHL goal in filthy fashion". November 19, 2019. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  19. http://www.phantomshockey.com/morgan-frost-named-2020-ahl-star-classic/
  20. Ruicci, Peter (12 April 2020). "Frost talks of days he'll 'never forget'". The Sault Star. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  21. Melendez, Ariel (26 July 2020). "Philadelphia Flyers: Playoff roster officially announced". Broad Street Buzz. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  22. Carchidi, Sam (17 January 2021). "Morgan Frost replaces injured Sean Couturier; Flyers' other 3 lines remain intact". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  23. Quigley, Ryan (21 January 2021). "Flyers provide injury updates for Phil Myers, Morgan Frost". Broad Street Hockey. SBNation. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  24. Hall, Jordan (February 2, 2021). "One of Flyers' top prospects to have surgery; Couturier nearing return". NBC Sports. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
  25. "Morgan Frost sets the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship on fire". NBC Sports Philadelphia. 26 December 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  26. Karstens-Smith, Gemma (26 December 2018). "Canada routs Denmark 14-0 in world juniors opener". CBC Sports. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  27. Meltzer, Bill (26 December 2020). "World Juniors: A Rite of Passage". nhl.com. National Hockey League. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  28. "Morgan Frost, the other 1st-round pick, can help Flyers, too". NBC Sports Philadelphia. 16 July 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  29. "Flyers prospect Morgan Frost answering every question along path to the NHL". NBC Sports Philadelphia. 30 January 2019. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  30. Hall, Jordan (4 May 2019). "An Opponent's Perspective on 'special' Flyers Prospect Morgan Frost". NBC10 Philadelphia. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  31. Ruicci, Peter (13 January 2021). "Flyers view Frost with favour". The Saulte Star. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  32. Meyer, Drew (25 April 2019). "The case for and against Morgan Frost being a Philadelphia Flyer for 2019-20". Broad Street Hockey. SBNation. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  33. Scheig, Mark (20 May 2017). "Morgan Frost – 2017 NHL Draft Prospect Profile". The Hockey Writers. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  34. Durso, Kevin (24 June 2017). "Flyers Draft Pick Scouting Report: Morgan Frost". Sports Talk Philly. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  35. Isaac, Dave (28 June 2018). "Morgan Frost trying to lift and eat his way to NHL weight". The Courier-Post. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  36. "Flyers director of player development Kjell Samuelsson talks Morgan Frost, Philippe Myers, development camp". NBC Sports Philadelphia. 29 June 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  37. "Bracco, Liljegren added to All-Star roster". American Hockey League. 2020-01-26. Retrieved 2020-02-01.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Nolan Patrick		 Philadelphia Flyers' first round draft pick
2017		 Succeeded by
Joel Farabee
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.