Flyers’ Cates Out 6-8 Weeks, Opportunity Is Now For Morgan Frost

There’s good news, and there’s bad news. The bad news is that the Philadelphia Flyers will be without Noah Cates for the next 6-8 weeks.

The good news is that head coach John Tortorella will be forced to give Morgan Frost (and Bobby Brink) extended runs in the Flyers’ lineup. However, it is extremely unfortunate that this will come at Cates’ expense, because the 24-year-old was just starting to play higher in the lineup himself.

Cates had been stapled to the fourth line for quite a while, and now he’ll have to wait until after the New Year to be reinstated to the Flyers‘ middle-six.

Morgan Frost’s Opportunity

Indeed, Morgan Frost just returned to the Philadelphia Flyers lineup on Saturday. However, getting on the ice – and staying on the ice – has been challenging. Frost has played more than 13 minutes just twice in his last five games.

Tortorella had previously stated that he wanted to give Frost opportunities to play an offensive game. Well, there’s no better time than now, with the Flyers sitting 18th in the NHL in goals for.

At both ends of the ice, Frost played some of his best hockey with Cates on his wing. With Cates out for an extended period, the former first-round pick will need to play a complete game without a defensive ace and forechecking maven at his side.

At the end of the day, Cates’ injury might mean more for Brink than it will for Frost. Tortorella could always end up being adamant about rotating Frost in, or putting he or Brink in at the expenses of one another. There’s always the chance the Philadelphia Flyers call up another forward and use that player instead.

Until then, the onus is on Morgan Frost to prove his value to Tortorella and the Flyers’ brass.

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