Morgan Frost Delivers Statement Game as Flames Edge Sharks
CALGARY - If you were looking for a breakout moment from Morgan Frost in a Calgary Flames jersey, Saturday night might just be it. The 26-year-old center was everywhere-on the scoresheet, in the faceoff circle, and making life miserable for the San Jose Sharks in a 3-2 Flames win that felt like more than just two points in the standings.
Frost finished with a goal, an assist, five shots on net, and a dominant 14-4 mark in the faceoff circle. He also drew two penalties and played a key role in all three Flames goals. Simply put, this was Frost at his most complete-and most confident.
“That’s the best I’ve seen him play since he’s been with us,” Flames head coach Ryan Huska said postgame. “He had pace, he was setting guys up, he was scoring. If we get that version of Morgan every night, we’re in a good spot.”
It’s been exactly one year since Frost and Joel Farabee were acquired from Philadelphia. And fittingly, both players were front and center in this one-Farabee netting the game-winner, and Frost doing just about everything else.
Last season, Frost struggled to find his footing after the trade. But this year, he’s looked more comfortable, more assertive-and Saturday night was a reminder of the kind of player he can be when he’s skating with purpose.
“I was moving my feet,” Frost said, flashing a grin. “That’s something the coaches talk to me about every day.
I thought I did a good job tonight. First period felt good, and I just built confidence from there.
When I’m feeling good, I can get a little more creative and do some of the things I know I can.”
One of those “things” came in the second period when Frost dangled around Sharks defenseman Mario Ferraro with a slick move that nearly led to a highlight-reel goal. It didn’t go in, but it was the kind of play that turns heads-and shows what Frost can do when he’s in rhythm.
“That’s a move I try sometimes when maybe I shouldn’t,” he admitted. “But I was flying, and they didn’t have a good gap. When I’m feeling it, I think I’ve got a little more leeway to try something like that.”
Frost’s impact extended beyond the offensive zone. In a crucial moment late in the third, with the game tied and the Flames short-handed, he stepped into the faceoff circle and won a key draw in the defensive zone. Seconds later, Farabee buried the go-ahead goal on a short-handed rush.
“You look at that play-four-on-four, eight seconds left before their power play starts,” Huska said. “Morgan goes out, wins the draw.
If we don’t get that puck, we’re stuck in our zone and they’re setting up. That’s a huge moment.”
And that’s how you earn trust from your coach. Huska was quick to point out that centermen who win key draws and make smart plays in all three zones get rewarded with more ice time-and Frost is earning that in spades right now.
Offensively, the chemistry is starting to build on the line of Frost, Jonathan Huberdeau, and rookie Matvei Gridin. It was Gridin who tied the game at 2-2 with a perfectly timed one-timer off a sharp cross-ice feed from Frost. The play was a textbook example of using the full width of the ice-something Calgary’s coaching staff has been preaching to a team that’s struggled to generate offense.
“We’ve been talking about trying to get the puck over to the weak side more instead of letting it die on one side,” Frost said. “I saw him open up, made the pass, and he was ready for it.”
The goal was Gridin’s second in the NHL, and it came in just his 11th game. The 2024 first-round pick (28th overall) showed off his hockey IQ on the play, pulling back into shooting position instead of crashing the net-giving Frost a clean lane to find him.
“Certain guys just have that instinct,” Huska said. “He could’ve gone straight to the net, but he rolled out and gave himself space to shoot. That’s a smart play.”
Between Frost’s vision and Gridin’s quick release, the Flames may have stumbled upon a combination with real offensive upside-something this team could use in bunches.
“Morgan’s a distributor, that’s his game,” Huska said. “And Matvei’s added speed to that line.
They’ve gotten better every game. Hopefully that continues.”
If Saturday night is any indication, the arrow is pointing up-for Frost, for Gridin, and maybe for a Flames team that’s been searching for this kind of spark.