Flyers forward Morgan Frost is one of just nine remaining restricted free agents across the NHL with training camps set to open up over the next couple of weeks. However, it appears as if he won’t be unsigned for much longer as team president Keith Jones told Chuck Basuman of Philly Hockey Now that while a deal isn’t done yet, the two sides are close to an agreement.
The 24-year-old was a first-round pick by Philadelphia back in 2017 (27th overall) and has had a more gradual development curve than many other first-rounders in his draft class. Last season was his fourth year of seeing NHL action but it was his first full campaign at the top level. Frost certainly made the most of it, notching 19 goals and 27 assists in 81 games, good for fourth on the team in scoring.
However, those numbers account for the bulk of Frost’s production as he had just 23 points in 77 games heading into last season. Accordingly, his track record lends itself toward a short-term bridge contract and not a long-term agreement that buys the Flyers some extra years of club control. Such an agreement could check in around the $2.5MM range.
Going that approach would also fit in with Philadelphia’s salary cap structure. At the moment, they have a little under $3MM in base cap room per CapFriendly. Yes, they have the ability to go into LTIR with Ryan Ellis’ contract but if they can stay below the cap and bank cap space in-season, that would be preferable, especially if some of their prospects with performance bonuses play their way onto the roster.
With the Flyers entering a true rebuild under new GM Daniel Briere, they’ll be turning things over more to their young core. Frost is certainly a big part of that and if Jones’ statement holds true, Frost should be signed before much longer, allowing him to be a full participant from day one in camp.