Blackhawks Should Explore Possible Morgan Frost Connection

It is one month into the season, and yet it feels extradited with the Chicago Blackhawks. With a last-place team, you’re always looking for future solutions, and insider Elliotte Friedman just brought up one possibility on Nov. 21. He suggested that Philadelphia Flyers center Morgan Frost and Chicago could be a potential match because Chicago desperately needs a center. Frost has been riding the bench in Philadelphia this year more than playing (healthy scratched four of the last five games).

Frost was the Flyers’ former first-round pick (27th overall) in 2017 and has had some bumps in Philly, but he can put up points. The 25-year-old has notched 40-plus points in his previous two seasons. His career faceoff percentage is 47.9%, but this season, it is 50.5%.

Frost started having disagreements with head coach John Tortorella, dating back to last season, due to his healthy scratches, but was praised by Tortorella for his response to it, especially when Frost called for a meeting in January with his coach to discuss everything, which Tortorella said he was “thrilled” about. Recently, Tortorella said he was “trying like hell” to stick with Frost while also noting he is “certainly” losing patience with him, as he has six points in 16 games and is a minus-11. He has played center all over the Flyers’ lineup this season, but since captain Sean Couturier returned from a lower-body injury, it pushed Frost out.

It’s well known that the Blackhawks don’t have outstanding center options. Their best center is Nick Foligno, who is a wing. Furthermore, Jason Dickinson is currently playing first-line center, with Connor Bedard being pushed to wing. Ryan Donato was moved to second-line center, but is now third. Frankly, they need help.

There have been noted consistency concerns with Frost, and he even admitted on Nov. 4 that he wanted more out of his game and wanted to contribute to his team. This makes two important parts of a possible Chicago connection.

First, he is on an expiring contract ($2.1 million AAV), so if the Blackhawks were to acquire him and he didn’t pan out, they wouldn’t be stuck. Second, the Blackhawks have to do something. The team is floundering, and forward Teuvo Teravainen told the Chicago Sun-Times that the team is losing confidence, making things more critical to address.

Head coach Luke Richardson already said that prospects like Frank Nazar would remain with the Rockford IceHogs for extra development, so a shakeup might have to come from the outside. Frost might not be the “perfect” center acquisition, but it is something that could help the locker room. He is a true center, and as former Flyers forward Wade Allison once said about Frost, “I wish I had that skill.”

Untapped potential is something Chicago can afford to take a risk on. Frost also seems to have good character, which is a bonus. For the Blackhawks, what do they have to lose?

Of course, it’s easy to say, and we don’t know his value or what Philadelphia could be asking for if they were to move him. But it’s not the first time this season that the Blackhawks have been involved in trade rumors for a center, and if they are still on the prowl, they should explore an option that is now in front of them.

For more Blackhawks News from Jim Lynch and Brooke LoFurno, visit Chicago Hockey Now, subscribe to our YouTube and like our Facebook page.

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