Morgan Frost still hasn’t settled in with the Calgary Flames, and that’s exactly why his name belongs in trade talk.
The 27-year-old from Aurora, Ontario is entering the final season of his contract, and the Flames are staring at a decision that feels pretty straightforward. Frost has flashed top-six ability in Calgary, but the fit has been uneven, with stretches of inconsistency mixed in with enough offense to keep the conversation alive.
He finished last season with a stronger run after the trade deadline, and the production was there: 22 goals and 21 assists across a full 82-game season. That kind of output is why his next contract is already looming large. Frost is one of Calgary’s few pending UFAs, and if a new deal doesn’t get done, the expectation is that he’ll be moved before free agency.
That might sound like another case of a player heading out the door, but from the Flames’ side, it makes sense.
Frost has already shown he can score. He broke out in 2022-23 with 19 goals and 27 assists, then followed with 13 goals and 28 assists in 2023-24.
He had 11 goals and 14 assists in 2024-25 before landing in Calgary, and then set a career high with the Flames by scoring 22 goals. He finished just six points shy of his best overall season.
If he gets a full 84-game season in Calgary’s top six, a career year is very much on the table. And that’s where the real value question starts to sharpen.
If contract talks are happening, they’re happening quietly; there haven’t been any reports of an extension. With the cap rising and centers around the league getting paid, Frost is going to be looking for a raise, and something in the neighborhood of $7.5 million a year is not out of the question.
The issue is whether that number makes sense for the long haul. By the time Calgary is truly ready to compete, Frost will be on the wrong side of 30, and he doesn’t profile as the first-line center the club should be building around for the future.
That makes the market around him worth watching, especially because center options are thin right now.
The Minnesota Wild are one team that stands out. Their center depth is already shaky for a club trying to chase a Stanley Cup, and while they’ve been linked to Dylan Larkin, Frost becomes a possible fallback if that chase falls short. Minnesota also has a deep group of prospects and young roster players, including Danila Yurov, Charlie Stramel, Riley Heidt and Adam Benak, giving Craig Conroy options if the Flames decide to engage.
Seattle is another fit. The Kraken haven’t shown any sign of stepping back, and they’re still hunting for a top-six scoring threat.
After missing on Artemi Panarin and Jason Robertson, they could land on a cheaper target like Frost. Their prospect and young-player group includes Shane Wright, Jagger Firkus and Jani Nyman.
Detroit could also enter the picture. If the Red Wings eventually lose Dylan Larkin because of his trade request, they may be looking to add center help, and Frost could become an interesting buy-low option depending on how he performs this season.
For Calgary, the path is pretty clean: keep Frost in a premium role, let him post numbers, and use that production to drive up his trade value. A strong season could bring back a solid package. There’s still a chance he extends before opening night, but if the Flames are thinking long-term, moving Frost looks like the better play.
In Other News...
Zayne Parekh Is Giving Flames Fans A Very Intriguing Question
Zayne Parekh gave Flames fans something to think about in an exhibition game against Vancouver, and it was the kind of performance that stands out even in preseason. The young defenceman looked noticeably sharper than he did a season ago, using his skating to move with purpose, finding lanes with better ice vision and showing a real ability to control the offensive zone. Against a Flames lineup expected to be close to its regular-season group, Parekh did enough to draw attention in a game where every shift carried a little more meaning.
Ryan Huska came away pleased with the way Parekh stayed engaged and competed throughout the night, which only adds to the intrigue around what comes next. For a player still trying to carve out his place, those are the kind of details that matter, especially when the work translates against NHL-calibre competition. The bigger question now is how Calgary handles a young defender who is making the decision harder by the game. [Read more 🡒]
Flames Young Standouts Made A Routine Preseason Win Worth Watching
A preseason win over Vancouver usually does not amount to much more than a useful tune-up, but Calgarys 3-1 victory had a little extra to it because the Flames dressed essentially their opening-day lineup and still found a way to separate in the middle frame. Dustin Wolf started in net for Calgary, Kevin Lankinen had the crease for the Canucks, and for a night the result mattered less than the early read on how the roster pieces were fitting together.
The most encouraging part for the Flames was the second period, when they put three pucks behind Vancouver and made the game look far less like an exhibition. The Canucks did get one back late in the third, but by then the bigger takeaway was clear enough for Calgary: the lineup looked sharp, and the young players who stood out made a routine preseason game feel worth the watch. [Read more 🡒]
Flames Camp Cuts Just Started And The Roster Squeeze Is Real
Training camp cuts are starting to come into focus for the Flames, and the first moves have already sent two prospects back to the AHLs Calgary Wranglers. It is the kind of early culling that usually says more about the numbers game than any final judgment on talent, especially this time of year when every practice rep and exhibition shift matters.
Abram Wiebe and Luke Philp are still very much part of the organizations pipeline, but the roster squeeze is already real with 43 players left in camp. Calgary still has more evaluation ahead, including upcoming exhibition games, so the next round of decisions should keep sorting out who can keep hanging around and who is headed back to the minors. [Read more 🡒]