Could the Maple Leafs and Flyers Strike a Deal Involving 25-Year-Old, Ontario-Born Center?
The Philadelphia Flyers are reportedly leaning towards trading 25-year-old Morgan Frost, who happens to be just what the Maple Leafs need in a 3rd line center.
It should come as no surprise that the Maple Leafs are in the market for another body down the middle. While they have performed admirably in the midst of their injury issues, they have also reportedly been perusing the trade market for centerman.
One player of particular interest could be Philadelphia Flyers forward Morgan Frost. The former first round pick from the 2017 NHL Entry Draft has failed to make in-roads with the Flyers and it looks like they are actively shopping him, according to the Athletic's Kevin Kurz.
Injuries and COVID-19 played a key role in Frost essentially missing 2 calendar years of game action. But, since then, he has put up just 38 goals and 109 points in 224 games dating back to 2021-22.
The Maple Leafs have poked around on the young pivot in the past. Frost's father, Andy Frost, was the PA announcer for the Maple Leafs between 1999-2016, and at one point in time, the Flyers were very interested in Nick Robertson, who, as we all know, is extremely disgruntled and has requested a trade.
Unfortunately, since their interest in Robertson, the Flyers have accumulated a boatload of young wingers and are in the market for a center themselves or a young defenseman.
Frost is still extremely talented and has shown some of that offensive awareness in his time with the Flyers, but the consistency has been lacking at times.
In the final 54 games of the 2022-23 season, Frost tallied 40 of his 46 points and paced the club by a wide margin. Last year as, he posted 28 points in a 33-game stretch that kept the Flyers' playoff hopes alive.
His relationship with John Tortorella might have something to do with his possible departure as well, but he's also a pending RFA at the end of the year and he will be looking for his third contract in four years, which isn't something the Flyers are totally interested in dealing with. Frost is currently signed through the end of the year at a relatively low cap hit of $2.1 million.
Craig Berube's latest comments on Robertson might indicate that he still has some length on the leash, but with 1 goal in 18 games thus far, management may not necessarily feel as strongly about Robertson's game as Berube does.
A deal between these two clubs makes a lot of sense, despite the Flyers looking for a center as well. Swapping young players and making a "hockey trade" is what Flyers GM Daniel Briere has said he's interested in doing at the moment and Brad Treliving should at least be picking up the phone and checking in on the situation.
| POLL | ||
NOVEMBRE 25 | 2585 ANSWERS Could the Maple Leafs and Flyers Strike a Deal Involving 25-Year-Old, Ontario-Born Center? Would you swap Nick Robertson for Morgan Frost? | ||
| Yes, in a heartbeat | 1608 | 62.2 % |
| No, both players are inconsistent | 977 | 37.8 % |
| List of polls | ||
