Should the Calgary Flames consider trading Morgan Frost?

Under a year ago, the Calgary Flames made a trade with the Philadelphia Flyers, acquiring Joel Farabee and Morgan Frost. It was a mixed bag last season when they arrived. They both had trouble adjusting to the system of the Flames and finding their footing in the lineup.

Today, both players are now making their marks in the Flames lineup. While inconsistent, both players have found roles for themselves, even if the counting numbers are not superb. Farabee will be here for the long haul as he still has another two years left on his contract after this season. When it comes to Frost, however, he will be a UFA the next summer in 2027. He inked a two-year deal this past summer, but I am not exactly sure if he is a player who has a long-term future in Calgary.

With being eligible to sign an extension as early as July 1st, the Flames will have to make a decision. Trade him, or sign him to an extension. With a rebuild likely on the horizon, the Flames may want to consider the possibility of moving on from Frost if the right package came along.

Why it makes sense to explore trade options

We can all agree that at this point, Frost is probably no more than a middle-six centre in the NHL. The upside is that he is a 40-point player who can be trusted in defensive situations.

However, with his contract expiring at the end of next season, he will likely want to get paid. His current contract is at $4.5M. It really would not shock me if he tries to demand north of $5M. If you are the Flames’ management, is that a player you would want to give that type of money to? He would also probably be looking for some term as well. It would be risky, just like when they signed Yegor Sharangovich, and we all know how that deal is aging at the moment.

The Flames have some players on the way. Cole Reschny could be NHL-ready as soon as next season and Matvei Gridin will be pushing for a spot. The Flames should use someone like Connor Zary down the middle more. Like it or not, there will be a youth movement happening in the next few years. With a likely top-five pick coming this summer, that will be another young piece coming into the fold. Unfortunately, there may not be enough spots for Frost moving forward.

Frost probably won’t command a ton on the trade market. If anything, we may see a trade that resembles what the Flames got for Andrew Mangiapane back in 2024, which was a second-round pick. It’s not a huge package, obviously, but for a player like Frost, that may be the best you get.

The case to keep Frost around

There is a very obvious reason to keep Frost around as well. It’s pretty easy. The Flames could trade Nazem Kadri anytime within the next year if the right package comes around. We will probably see Mikael Backlund retire once his next deal is up in two years. The centre depth won’t be there. We don’t know if Zary projects as a centre long-term, and there is a very real possibility that Reschny or Cullen Potter are wingers at the NHL level.

There will be spots down the middle if all of this goes that way, but if it doesn’t, then the spots get pretty thin. A lot of things would have to go right for spots to fill, but no question, there is a chance that could happen.

Frost fits the Flames system well. He is a great skater, skilled and can play anywhere in a pinch. I assume the Flames have been pretty happy with the returns they have gotten since they acquired him a year ago. Yes, I think we all wish there could be more production. Maybe once the Flames surround him with more talent, that could change, or maybe it won’t; we don’t really know. There is a chance he pops at some point, but we don’t have a good enough sample at this point.

Look at all the options

The Flames have a year and a half to figure out what they are going to do with Frost. He could be a nice little trade chip to use for a team looking for some depth for a playoff run. We know that at the deadline, teams tend to pay more for these players than they do at any other time in the year.

More assets for someone you may not see in your future is a good thing, but if you see a big improvement from him in that time span, an extension at the right price could be worth exploring.

The Flames cannot be short-sighted here. They have to consider all their options, because if they aren’t, then they just are not doing their jobs. We will see how the next year and a half plays out.