One more restricted free agent hangs in the balance. Noah Cates, Olle Lycksell, Cam York, and Ronnie Attard agreed to new terms with the Philadelphia Flyers.
The remaining domino is Morgan Frost.
Speculation articulates that Frost would be close to an agreement with the Flyers. Daniel Briere has ~$2.967mil in cap space before long-term injured reserve. When the weight of Ryan Ellis is off the books for the season, the cap space figure becomes ~$9.217mil.
Frost deserves a raise. He proved the contract presented by Chuck Fletcher in 2022-2023 correct. On a ‘prove-it’ agreement, Frost became one of the hottest forwards in the second half of the season. Increased ice time helped; the Flyers were without Sean Couturier for the season.
Last season, Frost finished 81GP with 46 points (19G, 27A) to showcase his best and first nearly complete campaign. His highly touted second half of 2022-2023 featured more than half of his total production. Additionally, the most recent effort was the most clutch for Frost. He scored all three of his career game-winning goals last season. Under the tutelage of John Tortorella, Frost turned into a more confident forward.
Not only did Frost become more confident on the ice, but in return, Tortorella showed more confidence in Frost. Opening the 2022-2023 season, Frost had a solid performance in a 5-2 victory versus the New Jersey Devils. He had a multi-point performance the next time on the road against the Arizona Coyotes two months later. As the Flyers closed in on the halfway point of last season, Frost notched two four-point games against the Coyotes and a five-game point streak against opponents including the Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators, Buffalo Sabres, Pittsburgh Penguins, and St. Louis Blues. Officially, he found his stride, understanding what Tortorella expected of him.
“Doing some of the little things. I’m never going to be a physical guy, but just trying to use my body a little more [and] making sure I’m in the right position, using my stick, playing defensively, little stuff like that. He [Tortorella] obviously really appreciates hard work and the little details.”
Morgan Frost; 4/27/2023
Each restricted free agent to receive a qualifying offer eventually accepted a two-year extension with the Flyers. Frost concluded his best NHL season, making $800k last season. He is as valuable of an offensive forward in the rebuild as Cates is as a defensive forward. Cates recently earned a new extension worth $2.65mil per season through 2025. The negotiations between Frost and the Flyers could closely reflect that extension but with a longer term.
In the coming seasons, the salary cap will increase in the NHL, and the Flyers will hope to move more contracts for assets, which complements the recent buyout of Tony DeAngelo, preserving an additional salary retention slot. Briere shouldn’t struggle to afford Frost as the team moves closer to the start of 2023-2024.
At his current trajectory, Frost will become a menace when prospects like Cutter Gauthier and Matvei Michkov arrive in Philadelphia. He already established synergy with skaters like Travis Konecny, Joel Farabee, and Owen Tippett. With more ice time, specifically on the powerplay, Frost is primed to ascend.
“Just build on what I was doing at the end of the year. The way he [Tortorella] is, I still think I’m going to have to almost regain the trust again right away at the start of the season.”
Morgan Frost; 4/27/2023
The second half of last season was a breakout for Frost, but he knows he’ll have to prove it all again to Tortorella and himself during the upcoming campaign.
(AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
