Every year, there seems to be a prospect that cannot escape the overdramatic storylines. For some reason, the focus cannot simply revolve around an individual’s play. We need to speculate about a fractured relationship with the organization, brushing strokes of doom and gloom that make his ascension to the NHL even harder. This year, that Flyers prospect is Morgan Frost.
As we know, it appeared as though the stars were aligning for Frost to make Philadelphia’s opening-night roster this season. However, whether solely at the hands of Chuck Fletcher or not, that did not come to fruition. To put it simply, Frost failed to show enough during the preseason to instill enough confidence in the General Manager and coaches to place him in such a prominent role on the Flyers roster. Pair that with only playing two games last season and a stint in Lehigh Valley to earn his stripes made the most sense.
Now in Lehigh Valley, it appears as though we are already creating the “fractured relationship” storyline. In critical situations, Ian Laperriere keeping his most skilled player off the ice during key moments has some of us foaming at the mouth for drama. I am here to say pump the breaks on that nonsense.
Whether we agree with Laperriere’s decision to bench Frost for most of the third period Sunday, including a 6-on-3 opportunity, is a conversation for a different day. In the hope of re-instilling confidence in the young forward, the organization wants to place Frost in the best opportunities to succeed. For whatever reason, they did not feel like putting him in those late-game situations would accomplish that after he’d been struggling in the first two periods.
As fans, we want Frost to be the answer to our lack of center depth. Not knowing when Hayes will be back to total health, having Frost come in and succeed at 2C would provide us with a much-needed dose of comfort. Unfortunately, that does not seem like the Flyers’ plan of action. Could we see Frost with the Flyers at some point this season? We sure could. However, expect the organization to take a patient approach, ensuring he is truly ready before his call up. Until then, let’s avoid over-analyzing every move made or not made on the Frost front. It will only drive you crazy.
Alright, on to some other Flyers prospects.
Flyers Prospects Weekly: Volume Three
On the Brink of a turn-around
The 2020-21 season was a fluke! Perhaps no player in the Flyers prospect pool wants to prove that true more than Bobby Brink.
Just four games into his junior campaign with Denver, Brink is doing just that. Already surpassing his goal-total from last season, the 2019 second-round pick is just four points away from tying his previous point total as well.
Now, of course, there is still a lot of games left in the NCAA season. Brink reverting to his 2020-21 form is not out of the question. However, it is also doubtful. He has his swagger back, picking up where he left off the last time hockey resembled some form of ordinary. Already one of Denver’s more productive forwards, expect him to maintain that status throughout the year, sparking conversations of an ELC at season’s end.
Did you say five points?!?
Friday night, Elliot Desnoyers put together a five-point performance for Halifax in a 6-4 victory over Shawinigan. Of course, outings like this ignite the hype train, making Desnoyers out to be the biggest steal of any draft since the beginning of time. Conversely, I retreat into my hole of skepticism and critical thinking, choosing to watch game footage before getting all excited.
After watching the game in its entirety, I can state with confidence that Desnoyers’s five-point outing Friday is undoubtedly one to swoon over. Yes, there was a secondary assist. Yes, there was also an assist on an empty-net goal. Still, Desnoyers was highly involved in every play, appearing like one of the more dominant players throughout the contest.
Again, it’s hard to imagine Desnoyers playing a top-six role with the Flyers down the road. To me, that level of production will not translate. However, the likelihood of him one day cracking the roster in a bottom-six role looks more realistic every time I watch him play.
Late-round love
When assessing late-round prospects, especially those selected in rounds six and seven, I tend to take a completely different approach compared to how I evaluate first and second-round talent. Getting drafted in rounds one and two comes with a high level of expectations. Especially for first-rounders, the ultimate expectation is to make the NHL.
As you make your way down the draft, the expectations for prospects lessens after each round. When you get to rounds six and seven, we are now dealing with the ultimate long shots. For me, all I ever want to see from players drafted in the late rounds is that they give you a reason to pay attention. So far this season, the likes of Connor McClennon and Bryce Brodzinski are doing just that. Both are clicking at over a point per game pace and playing significant roles on their respective teams. Have they stamped their tickets to the NHL? Absolutely not. They remain longshots in my book. Still, the fact that they are a part of our everyday prospect conversation is enough to bring you a small amount of joy.
The Approach
One more quick note. Last season, Chuck Fletcher & Co. placed a lot of their eggs in the youth basket. The organization counted on many young players to take the next steps in their progression, and it simply did not pan out. For this reason, one must expect a different approach this year when dealing with prospects. Fletcher will be highly hesitant when considering calling up a young player. They will make sure it is the absolute best option for doing so before pulling the trigger. So, when you wonder when players such as Frost or York will get their shot this season, take the long view approach.
John Gove is the Head of Prospects and Draft Coverage for HW Hockey. Follow John on Twitter.
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