It’s no surprise that the Lehigh Valley Phantoms are set to ice a stellar squad of young, impressive talents. From Joel Farabee to Isaac Ratcliffe, the Phantoms will be packed to the gills with some fantastic prospects. Up around the top of that list sits Morgan Frost.
Morgan Frost comes to the Phantoms via the OHL’s Sault St. Marie Greyhounds, where he spent four seasons dominating the competition. Much like a certain someone who plays for the Philadelphia Flyers, Frost is set to light the league on fire with his dynamic play.
That certain someone is Flyers captain Claude Giroux.
When you look at the two side-by-side, there are a lot of similarities. Both faced the whole “he isn’t big enough” argument from scouts and critics alike. While Giroux is now finding a home on the wing, Frost may be forced out of his natural center position as well if he wants to make the NHL roster. Digging even deeper, the stats do nothing but reinforce the comparisons.
Morgan Frost’s first two years in the OHL were a learning curve. While scoring 27 points during his rookie OHL year, and 62 the next, he finally hit his stride. Over his last 2 seasons in the OHL, Frost posted 221 points in 125 games. He averaged 1.77 points per game over those two years.
Giroux’s last two years? 218 points in 118 games. His points-per-game average over those last two years for the Gatineau Olympiques was 1.85. All three of Giroux’s QMJHL years, and all four of Frost’s OHL years, each player always had more assists than goals. Both have been described as playmaking centers, which couldn’t be more true considering the way they elevate those that play around them.
Frost and Giroux even take penalties at almost the same rate. Giroux accumulated 150 penalty minutes during his 3 years in the QMJHL. He averaged about a penalty every two games. Frost tallied 149 penalty minutes in 257 games, an average of about one penalty every 3 games.
The comparisons don’t stop there either.
Think back to 2017 when then-GM Ron Hextall traded back into the first round to take Morgan Frost. Many thought he reached, taking Frost too high in the draft. Now, think back to 2006 if you can. Many believed that Flyers then-GM Bob Clarke took Giroux too early as well. Now, look at the result.
To this point, Giroux has been nothing short of great for the Flyers. Taking over as captain and becoming one of the top scorers in the league since coming into the NHL, Giroux has been everything the Flyers have wanted him to be and more.
Looking at Morgan Frost isn’t exactly like Claude Giroux looking into a mirror. However, given the similarities to this point in Frost’s career, it isn’t too farfetched to believe that Frost could likely end up a similar caliber player to Claude Giroux.
It’s a lofty comparison, but one that isn’t outside of the realm of possibility considering what Claude Giroux was then, and what Morgan Frost is now.
Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
