Big Chance For Flyers’ Morgan Frost to Step Up

With Morgan Frost under contract, the Philadelphia Flyers’ roster is full.

Frost signed a two-year, $4.2 million contract extension, a deal that was widely reported Wednesday night and that the Flyers confirmed Thursday. The contract is great news for Frost. The opportunity that’s available to him might be even more important.

Rebuilding teams often offer position openings not available on contending teams. Rebuilding teams often, through necessity, offer more ice-time for young players than stronger teams.

His game turned around in the second half last season. Frost looked more comfortable, more creative and more confident. He started putting up numbers, too — career highs in goals (19), assists (27) and points (46). He also played a career-high 81 games and was the Flyers’ leading scorer after Jan. 1.

After a rough patch with coach John Tortorella, Frost established himself as a reliable centerman, a position where the Flyers need help. Frost averaged 16:21 of ice-time last season. If all goes well for him, his points and playing time will increase.

Frost is 24 years old, a 2017 first-round pick, 27th overall. He appears to have a huge upside and the talent to fulfill it. This is an enormous training camp for him — to establish himself as a top center, a go-to guy for Tortorella.

“I’m pretty proud of the way I handled things this year,” Frost said at the end of last season.

“Still, I think I could have been a lot better and could have done a lot of things better. I think I still have a tremendous amount of room for improvement. I did say it was the biggest year of my life.”

Frost has the chance to have an even better year coming up. He’s signed, sealed and delivered. Training camp opens in less than two weeks.

Flyers, In Case You Missed It:

What Flyers wanted in their free-agent class this offseason.

Five most important Flyers — and why.

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Coming at 10 a.m.: Sam Carchidi column on how it’s time for Flyers rookies and prospects to step up.

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