CALGARY — Morgan Frost wants to remain a Calgary Flame long-term.
It’s a refreshing declaration in a city where a steady stream of Flames veterans have spent the last three years lining up for the exits, looking for warmer/greener pastures, bigger opportunities, more money or simply fleeing a rebuild.
That’s what makes Morgan Frost’s stance so refreshing.
“I would love to stay, first and foremost,” the Flames centreman told Sportsnet.ca in a one-on-one.
“I’m happy here. I think there’s opportunity here for me with a young team, and I’m still kind of in that middle age. I’m not an old guy yet, and I think there’s opportunity for me to play and grow with these guys.”
Frost’s declaration comes on the heels of Zach Whitecloud telling Sportsnet how keen he is to stay in Calgary and be part of what the organization is building.
Two players in the same fortnight making it clear they want to be here, want to be part of the process and see a future in a city that hasn’t exactly been a magnet for veteran commitments in recent years.
For general manager Craig Conroy, it is music to his ears.
Conroy said Wednesday he’s open to starting contract discussions with Frost’s agent, Darren Ferris, and is curious to see what kind of numbers the 27-year-old centre has in mind.
With salaries continuing to skyrocket across the NHL, there’s no telling where those negotiations might begin. Centres — particularly when they are about to become unrestricted free agents — don’t come cheap.
The Flames have plenty of salary-cap room to work with, but they know how important it will be to spending wisely as they plot their path.
The question now is whether Frost can continue making a compelling enough case on the ice to warrant a significant raise, and whether the Flames believe keeping him is more valuable than cashing in on him on the trade market.
Both are legitimate considerations.
But neither should overshadow the fact that Calgary has a player who genuinely wants to stay.
Asked if he would sign a new deal tomorrow if the right number came up, he didn’t hesitate.
“Yeah, for sure,” he said.
That’s about as straightforward as it gets.
“I love it here, so that’s what I’ve said to him,” said Frost of his conversations with his agent dating back to the summer.
“I don’t know what goes on after that.”
Frost says he prefers to focus on hockey and let his agent handle the business side until there’s something to discuss.
He arrived in Calgary from Philadelphia with something to prove and plenty of ice time to do it.
Now, Frost has a chance to establish himself as a legitimate top-line centre and a key power-play presence — responsibilities that weren’t necessarily waiting for him with the Flyers, and might not be available elsewhere, even if he reaches the open market.
That opportunity has value.
So does the chance to grow alongside a young group that includes a handful of his off-ice besties, Matt Coronato, Joel Farabee, Zayne Parekh, Jonathan Huberdeau and Connor Zary. Chemistry and camaraderie matter when going through what the Flames are embarking on with their full makeover.
“We’re on the rise here, and it’s a younger group,” said Frost, who had a career-high 22 goals last year.
“I know I haven’t been here that long, but it feels like over the past two years now, I’m just comfortable with the guys here. I like them a lot.”
He likes the city, too.
“I like playing in Canada too — I think it’s cool to play in Canada,” said the Toronto native.
“The city’s great. I especially love it at the start of the year when it's not cold.”
And then there’s the new arena on the horizon.
“I would like to see the new building for sure,” said Frost, flashing his megawatt smile.
“From what I've seen and heard, it's going to be pretty unbelievable.”
Can’t blame him there.
If his progress continues along the trajectory established last season, the Flames could have a valuable centre worth keeping for the long haul.
That position remains one of Calgary’s most pressing organizational needs. Flames fans know better than anyone that skilled, productive centres are difficult to find and expensive to acquire. Moving one before the deadline for a substantial return could make sense, particularly if another team is willing to pay a premium for his services.
That’s a decision Conroy will have to make by the trade deadline, as the only options are to extend him or cash out by then. Frost makes $4.3 million and has an eight-team no-trade list.
Conroy has made it clear that Calgary intends to invest in players who want to be part of what comes next. That philosophy becomes a lot easier to execute when players start volunteering their commitment rather than waiting to be convinced.
Wherever this goes, it’s refreshing for the Flames to have a pair of players asking how they can be part of the solution, instead of wondering when they can get out.
That’s a turnaround worth paying attention to.
3:53