Flyers Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down: Morgan Frost takes a noticeable step forward

After a slow start, Morgan Frost heated up and turned heads late in the 2022-23 season.

Time was running out for Morgan Frost.

After logging just 16 points in 55 games during the 2021-22 season, the 23-year-old (soon to be 24) was struggling to establish himself as a consistent point producer in the NHL. And as a first-round pick in 2017, many were beginning to lose hope. Would Frost ever reach his full potential?

That remains to be seen. But at the very least, Frost did take a significant step forward during the 2022-23 season — even if it took him a few months to heat up.

Frost's season didn't exactly start off the way he hoped it would.

After a strong two-goal performance in the Flyers' season opener, his production was essentially nonexistent for two months. In 26 games from October 15 to December 9, Frost amassed a grand total of four points (one goal, three assists).

The advanced metrics weren't kind to him during that span either. At 5-on-5, Frost posted a 45.64 Corsi For percentage and an absolutely abysmal Goals For percentage of 35.29. On top of that, his 1.91 Expected Goals For per 60 at 5-on-5 were below the likes of Zack MacEwen, Patrick Brown, and even Nic Deslauriers.

In other words, Frost was essentially a black hole for offense. He was completely unnoticeable in the attacking zone, and his defensive play wasn't even close to good enough to mask his offensive deficiencies. He flat out looked like he didn't belong in the NHL. And at that point, fans (understandably) were beginning to think the Flyers wasted yet another high draft pick on a player who just didn't have what it takes to be a difference maker.

But then December 11 happened.

That night, Frost put together the best game of his career. He logged a goal and three assists against the Arizona Coyotes. And from that point on, he was a completely different player.

From December 11 to the season finale, Frost led all Flyers players in assists (24) and points (40), and the advanced stats improved as well. His pre-December 11 5-on-5 Corsi For percentage? That jumped to 51.55 in his final 54 games of the season. And his horrific Expected Goals For per 60? That jumped to 3.13. Against all odds, Frost not only developed into a competent offensive player, but one of the most efficient point producers on the roster.

All in all, Frost logged 19 goals and 46 points in 81 games — good for fourth-most of all Flyers players.

What's that old adage? "It's not how you start, but how you finish?"

Frost finished very strong, and now there's hope he can take an even bigger step in 2023-24.

Frost's puck skills are undeniable. This was made abundantly clear after he scored his first NHL goal — a gorgeous backhander he slipped right past the ear of Sergei Bobrovsky in his first NHL game.

Well, Frost put his talent on display again with a between-the-legs marker against the Anaheim Ducks in January.

Stationed to the side of the net, Frost received a nifty behind-the-net feed from James van Riemsdyk and somehow managed to elevate the puck in close quarters — between his legs — past Anthony Stolarz, giving the Flyers a two-goal lead in a game they went on to win, 5-2.

Pretty good stuff.

Frost's 2022-23 season got off to a bad start. At one point, he looked like one of the worst players on the roster. But once he got going, he became a key cog on a Flyers offense desperate for point production.

There is still much room for Frost to grow. For one, while his defensive play has improved, he could still use some refinement away from the puck. He could also stand to put on some additional weight to make more of an impact in board battles. But given where he was in the middle of the season, it's hard to complain about how far Frost has come.

Now, he just needs to keep the progression going.

Verdict:

Statistics courtesy of Natural Stat Trick and NHL.com.