The Canadiens’ hunt for help down the middle has stretched on for months, and a new option has now entered the conversation: Morgan Frost of the Calgary Flames.
According to The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta, Frost’s name is making the rounds in trade discussions, and the Flames forward is reportedly available.
Frost is no mystery to NHL observers. The 27-year-old, six-foot center put up 43 points with Calgary last season while handling the Flames’ first-line center role.
For Montreal, that makes him a legitimate name to watch. The Canadiens are looking for a center who can stabilize their second line, and the market has been thin enough that quality options have been hard to come by. Frost has suddenly become one of the more interesting possibilities.
He’s also the kind of target that fits a few boxes. His $4.375 million cap hit sits in a workable range, and the price in prospects or draft picks likely wouldn’t be overly steep. Montreal has been linked to several centers this summer, but more than once the asking price has been enough to push Kent Hughes away.
A fresh start could help Frost as well. His talent has never been the issue, and players do sometimes find another gear after a change of scenery.
The Canadiens still have a long way to go in solving their center problem, but Frost would at least move them in the right direction. He could also serve as an intriguing stopgap while they wait for Michael Hage.
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He already has a bit of familiarity with the Rocket after appearing in three games with the club last season, and his path has taken him through the QMJHL and ECHL before this latest step. A one-year two-way deal for the 2026-27 season gives him a clear runway to try to establish himself in Laval, with the next stretch of his career likely to determine how quickly he can climb from organizational depth to something more. [Read more 🡒]
