Morgan Frost, the Other 1st-round Pick, Can Help Flyers, Too

VOORHEES, N.J. - Morgan Frost was teeming with nerves.

The Flyers had just called his name on the night of the NHL draft, so emotions were running wild as he made his way to the spectacle's forefront at the United Center.

"It was pretty crazy," Frost said last week. "Walking up the stage, I thought I was going to fall over."

Unlike that concern, Frost has no trouble staying upright on the ice. His speed, skating and skills are what made him attractive to the Flyers, who selected the 18-year-old in the June draft with the 27th pick acquired via the Brayden Schenn trade.

With the deal, Frost became the Flyers' second first-round choice of the night, joining No. 2 overall pick Nolan Patrick. And similar to Patrick, Frost is a skilled forward that thrives when skill surrounds him. Put Frost with talent, and he'll make it better.

"I think I'm definitely a playmaker first," Frost said. "I think you're always going to see me with more assists than goals."

That rung true last season when Frost put up 42 assists compared to 20 goals in 67 games with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the OHL. Alongside Bruins 2015 first-round pick Zach Senyshyn, a bonafide goal-scoring winger, Frost dished the puck plenty and also produced a 22-assist increase from his first year of junior play.

"Playing with a guy like Senyshyn definitely helps that stat because he's a goal scorer," Frost said. "I think for me, playing with a goal scorer is part of the best thing because I'm a guy that likes to distribute. At the same time, I feel like I can contribute offensively in terms of scoring, but I'm definitely a playmaker."

Frost provided glimpses of that ability through a variety of drills and competition at Flyers development camp, his first real taste of the NHL.

"It's super special," Frost said. "The first step on that ice obviously meant a lot to me. It's still pretty surreal for me to be here. I'm definitely excited."

Now with an NHL organization, Frost hopes to grow both physically and defensively. An offensive stalwart listed at 5-foot-11, 172 pounds, Frost was able to see how he can improve those areas after spending six days with the Flyers.

"Giving them an early view of our expectations as an organization of ways to improve their game, whether it's skill-wise or strength-wise," Flyers general manager Ron Hextall said of development camp.

"Being a pro and showing them ways to develop physically and as an athlete."

Over time, Frost wants to show he can be an all-situation center. He feels he has already started to with the Greyhounds, who will continue to give him greater responsibilities in 2017-18, including penalty-kill minutes.

"They kind of stressed that to me right when I got there," Frost said. "I was kind of a one-dimensional player, offensive. They stressed that it wasn't all about that, it's not about scoring goals or setting up goals all the time if you're going to be on the ice for goals against. So plus-minus was something I wanted to improve on and just be harder to play against, play defense. They turned me into more of a well-rounded player."

Over 65 games in 2015-16, Frost was a minus-6. He went to a plus-15 in 2016-17. And while he wants to become more complete, making a difference with the puck on his stick will be his ticket to the Flyers.

"I think that's a skill I've had ever since I was a little kid, just being able to see the ice and slow the play down a little," Frost said. "But at the same time, I think that's developed with coaching and practice."

After getting to know the Flyers, he found new ways to work on those strengths.

"We're watching video, watching just little things that you can do with your skates - ways to change your angle, use your edges," Frost said. "That's one thing that I definitely want to do and I want to be able to accelerate better.

"The first three steps and once I get up to speed, I'm fast and I can use my speed to my advantage."

And to help his teammates, too. That's what Frost does best.