VOORHEES – While Brayden Schenn was parading around TD Garden hoisting the Stanley Cup last week, folks who follow the Flyers were left wondering what might have been if not for a trade a couple years back.
That’s the one which took place during the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, when Philadelphia sent Schenn to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for their 27th overall pick.
The Flyers used that pick to select center Morgan Frost.
At the time, then general manager Ron Hextall said he made the trade specifically to tab Frost.
Well, that raised the expectation bar just a bit.
Frost, 20, has been progressing nicely. In his last year of junior hockey (with Sault Ste. Marie of the Ontario Hockey League), Frost registered 37 goals and 109 points in 58 games.
At this point, it looks like Frost and 2018 first-rounder Joel Farabee have the best chance of seeing action with the Flyers over the next year or so.
At Tuesday’s Development Camp opener, Frost talked about his progress, which includes getting bigger and stronger. He says he’s up to 187 pounds, which is well above his roster listing of 170.
He says his goal is to come into fall training camp at 190. In the meantime, he will continue his offseason conditioning program. The development camp is a good way to gauge where he’s at.
“You obviously have to do stuff to stick out,’’ Frost said at the Skate Zone. “But at the same time you want to blend in with the better players.
“I’m just trying to do everything I can to make an impression.’’
Skating speed is something Frost is working on.
“That sort of thing comes from working in the gym,’’ he said. “Building your lower-body strength. That’s one of the things that was always stressed to me, to move my feet and explode out of that first step instead of waiting and reacting.
“It’s just kind of jumping in on plays and reacting quicker. That’s one thing I’m trying to focus on.’’
This is Frost’s third development camp, so he’s considered one of the “veterans.’’ Maybe he can pass on some wisdom to the new kids.
“I think that’s kind of a given when you’re an older guy,’’ he said. “You kind of go first in line and show the younger guys who don’t really know what they’re doing around here the ropes.
“As you get older, you want to be more of a leader toward the guys who are just coming in.’’
>Allison still on the mend
The Flyers were real high on Wade Allison when he was drafted back in 2016. He was a physical player who was ready to tear it up for Western Michigan University.
Then came a blown out knee (ACL surgery in January, 2018) and seemingly he’s been on the mend ever since.
Allison says he’s still not a hundred percent.
“They (the surgeons) told me it would be about two years until it’s a hundred percent,’’ he said. “We’re about 17 months (into recovery) so there’s still a little ways to go.
“I’m slowly feeling better. I’m skating with more confidence on it.’’
The injury has been disappointing because Allison is one of those hard-edged players who still has some skill. He posted 15 points in 22 games before he got hurt.
He can’t really play that physical style if he’s not at full strength.
“Any time I have to put weight on it (there’s discomfort),’’ Allison said. “So just about all the time. It’s like an aching pain. Feels like someone stabbing a knife in me.
“I’ll be in my car and push on the gas and my knee goes everywhere. But we’re working on it.’’
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