It’s no secret that the New York Islanders are looking to improve upfront. One potential target could be Philadelphia Flyers forward Morgan Frost.
It’s no secret that the New York Islanders are looking to improve upfront. One potential target could be Philadelphia Flyers forward Morgan Frost.
It’s no secret that the New York Islanders are looking to improve upfront.
With limited cap space and a depleted prospect pool, however, the Islanders need to be opportunistic via trade or free agency.
One potential target could be Philadelphia Flyers forward Morgan Frost.
Frost, 25, scored 13 goals and 41 points in 71 games this season for the Flyers—a nearly identical pace to his scoring in 2022-23.
The Aurora, Ontario native has primarily played center in a middle-six role, although he was bumped up to the second-line center role by the end of the season.
Flyers head coach John Tortorella’s trust has been hard to gain, but Frost, like many of his Flyers teammates, made strides defensively this past season.
Frost has a reputation as more of a playmaker than a goal-scorer, though he can still find the back of the net.
In 2022-23, the former first-round pick (27th overall in 2017) notched 19 goals while averaging just over 16 minutes a night.
With the right teammates, Frost could provide both passing and scoring at a good clip.
The forward is also reputed for his strong work ethic, willing his way back into the lineup even after consecutive scratches.
READ: An In-Depth Look At Morgan Frost's Redemption Arc
Before he signed an extension in September of 2023, Frost was a prime trade candidate due to his inconsistent play and high ceiling.
His slow start to 2023-24 led to his name appearing in trade rumors again, but the Flyers elected to keep him past the trade deadline in an effort to continue their playoff push.
Now, after Frost's strong finish to the season, the Flyers front office may want to capitalize on peak value.
However, Frost’s strong end to the season won’t skyrocket his cost, but it's hard to gauge how the organization values him.
It is worth noting that Frost is on a cost-efficient contract—$2.1 million through 2024-25—and is set to become a restricted free agent with arbitration rights, which could raise acquisition costs to some degree since he's under team control.
Since Frost is under team control, it could take the Islanders' first (No. 20) or a combination of a second-round pick and a prospect to acquire his skill sets.
It would be a risk if Frost costs a first since the Islanders would likely use that pick to get a bonafide top-six forward, not a question mark.
But what about the fit?
Frost is a center, which, yes, the Islanders seem to have too many of.
However, it is easier for a center to switch to the wing than vice versa; look at Mat Barzal, who switched to the wing to play with Bo Horvat.
During the 2019 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, Frost played wing instead of his usual center and recorded eight points in five games.
Whether it is Frost or another Islanders center switching to wing, making him fit in the lineup wouldn’t be impossible.
This move would actually allow Brock Nelson to play as the top-line left winger with Horvat and Barzal, something he did this past season as head coach Patrick Roy tried to find the right match.
Roy ultimately settled with fourth-line centerman Casey Cizikas in that spot, which is not a long-term answer.
The beleaguered Islanders farm system also has few center prospects, so acquiring a 25-year-old center isn’t a bad idea.
A trade may be less likely because it would be interdivisional, but don’t rule it out just yet. Frost isn’t of star caliber, and general manager Lou Lamoriello has acquired forwards from interdivisional foes before—see Kyle Palmieri and Travis Zajac in 2021.
Trading for Frost would be right up Lamoriello’s alley, and Frost would give the Islanders a young middle-six forward while still enabling them to make further moves due to his favorable contract.
According to CapFriendly, the Islanders have $6.43 million in available cap space (including Maxim Tsyplakov and his $950,000 on NHL roster and not Julien Gauthier's $787,500), which will drop to $4.33 million if they acquire Frost.