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With any young prospect, the Flyers want them to develop through playing. The more games, the bigger the role, the better.
But due to the start of the AHL season in February and the depth of the big club in the middle, the Flyers were ready to adjust with Morgan Frost. They asked the talented 21-year-old center to take a few reps from the left winger during training camp. They were evaluating Frost as their 13th forward to open the 2020-2021 regular season. If Frost were to have his number called, there was a chance he would be needed along the wing. Versatility with your reinforcements is always a plus.
It turns out that just two games after the 56-game regular season, the Flyers already need help with Frost’s natural position.
Sean Couturier underwent an MRI on Saturday and was diagnosed with a costochondral separation after being injured in the Flyers’ 5-2 win over Friday night against the Penguins. Couturier left the game around 1:38 in the action and did not return. When a guy like Couturier doesn’t return to the game, that’s not a particularly promising sign of the severity of the injury.
“When your No.1 center collapses he won a Selke last year, he was one of the best centermen in the league, it’s always tough to get over him,” Jakub Voracek said on Friday. “He kind of brings that balance to the game and his line, he’s very smart with the puck and he holds the puck really well. That was one of the reasons the game was so sloppy because we were running out of Coots, so I hope it won’t be in the long run. It was an unfortunate loss and I hope he gets better. “
With Couturier forced to run out of time, Frost is likely the next man to have the first chance at opening a position. The Flyers will likely move Kevin Hayes to the front row center and have Nolan Patrick or Frost play to the second row center. The Flyers don’t see Frost as a fourth row player, so he would play either second or third. The Flyers have scored 11 goals in two games and Frost can hum them offensively. The Flyers will also be looking for him to provide more 200-foot qualities, which he has worked on during the offseason and at camp.
The 2017 first-round pick is a love at first sight scorer with his high-level skills and ability to play. Frost caused a stir when he was called up to the Flyers in November 2019 for his NHL debut, scoring two goals (his first being dirty) and three points in his first two games before peaking offensively in under minutes.
“He’s a talented young player,” Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher said on Tuesday. “He played well last year when given the opportunity in the NHL and he finished strong in the American Hockey League, so I think he has a job that the coaching staff He’s had a good camp, he’s worked hard, he’s worked hard to address certain areas of his game that the coaches have asked him to work on. He has earned the right to be part of the team. “
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