Canadiens & Flames Becoming Potential Trade Partners
Per The Hockey News, Calgary Flames center Morgan Frost could be a potential option for the Habs to consider, with questions about his future in Calgary mounting as he enters the final year of his contract.
David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period has confirmed Frost's name is "making the rounds in trade discussions," reporting the Flames forward is available.
Player Who's Already Changed Teams Once
Philadelphia selected Frost 27th overall in the 2017 draft and developed him through the Flyers system, but he was later dealt to the Flames, where he's since settled in as a top-line center.
He's coming off a career year, posting 22 goals and a career-high 43 points in 82 games last season.
Morgan Frost scores his first goal with the Flames
— Nasty Knuckles (@NastyKnuckles) February 3, 2025
pic.twitter.com/tC2eSSK1kk
That contract situation is what makes him available. Frost carries a $4.375 million cap hit for 2026-27 before hitting unrestricted free agency, and with Calgary in the middle of a rebuild, holding onto a pending UFA center with no long-term future in the organization makes little sense for GM Craig Conroy.
Why Montreal Specifically Makes Sense
The Canadiens are widely believed to be holding their second-line center spot open for top prospect Michael Hage, who's expected to turn pro and jump straight to the NHL once his season at Michigan wraps up, likely sometime before next spring.
That creates a need for a short-term bridge rather than a long-term answer, and Frost's expiring contract is close to perfect for that role.
Frost would give Kent Hughes a player capable of solidifying the second line immediately, with the added benefit that Montreal could flip him again at the trade deadline to recoup value once Hage is ready to take over.
🥶 MORGAN FROST 🥶
— NHL (@NHL) March 17, 2024
That was nasty. pic.twitter.com/M6F99LxbQ5
One connecting thread between the two sides is restricted free agent Arber Xhekaj. Per Herb Zurkowsky of the Montreal Gazette, the Flames showed interest in Xhekaj at the trade deadline, and that interest has reportedly carried into the offseason.
If Montreal ultimately decides to move on from Xhekaj, Calgary's known interest in the physical defenseman could line up with its desire to get something back for Frost.
While Pagnotta confirms teams are interested and Calgary could move Frost now if it wanted to, nothing appears urgent on the Flames' side. Frost may ultimately be a better trade chip at the deadline as a rental for a team going all-in, which means Calgary has no real incentive to sell cheap this the offseason.
