Flyers Return Morgan Frost, Isaac Ratcliffe to Juniors

(Photo: Kate Frese)

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

There has been a lot of hype around two draft picks from the Flyers 2017 class with very different builds and styles.

Morgan Frost was the first-round pick that took juniors by storm last season, sending visions of a potential spot in the NHL into everyone’s mind. Isaac Ratcliffe, the big power forward taken in the second round of the 2017 Draft, was one of the players that showed a lot of improvement over the last year.

Both stuck around in camp longer this season and got the chance to play in a preseason game for the Flyers. Their journey to the NHL ends there, however, this season. Both Frost and Ratcliffe were returned to their junior teams on Tuesday, GM Ron Hextall announced.

Frost scored 42 goals and added 70 assists for 112 points with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in the OHL last season, good for second in the league in points. The Greyhounds begin play this season on Wednesday night.

Frost’s return allows him to work on some of the finer details of his game. He’s got the smarts, vision and tools, but he is still lacking in the size to be able to go into the dirty areas and win battles. Another season in juniors will provide him with that opportunity to grow into what he needs to be at the NHL level.

This is Frost’s final year of eligibility in juniors, so he can work on the finer points of his game before turning pro next season, whether that is at the NHL or AHL level.

Unlike Frost, Ratcliffe’s prospects of making the NHL roster this season were virtually impossible. As the captain of the Guelph Storm in the OHL this upcoming season, he figures to play a big role in both production and leadership.

Ratcliffe scored 41 goals and had 68 points in 67 games as an alternate captain with Guelph last season. He also played in two games with the Phantoms, scoring his first professional goal in the process.

For Ratcliffe, this move was to be expected, but provides an opportunity to have a solid final season in junior before making the transition to the pros for good. Guelph's season begins on Thursday night.

The moves by the Flyers reduces the roster from 53 to 51 players. The only junior-eligible player left in training camp is Yegor Zamula, in camp on an ATO.

The Flyers face off against the New York Islanders on Tuesday night from Barclays Center at 7 p.m.