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Calgary Flames' best path forward is to trade Morgan Frost

Colton Pankiw
Colton Pankiw
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Oct 28 2026, 4:35 pm
Calgary Flames' best path forward is to trade Morgan Frost
Sergei Belski/Imagn Images

Morgan Frost has been a difficult player to get a read on ever since he arrived on the Calgary Flames roster.

The talent level is undeniable. Frost has games where he looks like a true star talent. His vision paired with some great hands allows him to create something out of nothing. That’s particularly valuable on a Flames team that lacks skill up front.

The issue with Frost, however, is that the dominance he can display in flashes isn’t seen nearly enough. For as many “wow” moments as he can provide, there are also far too many games where he’s virtually unnoticeable.

Those inconsistencies have put the Flames camp in a tricky spot.

Frost is playing out the final year of his contract and is set to become an unrestricted free agent (UFA) this summer. TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reported on Tuesday that extension talks between the two parties have gotten underway. While this is nothing unusual for a pending UFA, signing the 27-year-old to an extension could wind up being a mistake.

You can certainly understand the Flames’ interest in working out an extension. Frost is currently operating as their No. 1 centreman, a position they’re severely lacking in. And again, he shows those flashes that make you think there’s a great player on the cusp of breaking out.

That’s where reality needs to set in. Most players are at their peaks at Frost’s age, and it isn’t as if he’s still adapting to the NHL game. He’s played a combined 403 games split between the Flames and Philadelphia Flyers, surpassing the 40-point mark on three occasions.

Based on what we’ve seen over a lengthy stretch, it’s fair to suggest that what Frost is as a player right now is what he will continue to be. That is why the Flames are better off to work the phones on a trade.

Frost is in a good position to sign the biggest contract of his career. He’s coming off of a career-high 22 goals, and is set to enter a free-agent class that is weak in terms of centres.

AFP Analytics currently projects Frost to land a three-year deal with an average annual value of $6.3 million. With the cap continuing to rise so steadily, there’s a strong chance any deal he winds up signing sees him earn $7 million+ per year.

While player salaries are increasing by the minute, it’s hard to justify paying Frost that much. Keep in mind, this is a player who would ideally be playing a middle-six role by the time this team is willing to contend, as opposed to his current first-line spot.

The Flames have several other young pieces that they are going to eventually need to work out contracts for, and it’s crucial they have the cap space available to do so. Extending Frost could affect that down the road, which is why the best course of action is to trade him to whichever team is willing to give up the biggest package.

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