2015-16 Report Card: Michael Frolik

Michael Frolik

B+

Samwell9: A-

When Michael Frolik signed with the Flames last July 1^st, GM Brad Treliving compared him to a “Swiss Army Knife.” In Frolik’s first season in Calgary, you could see exactly why that comparison was made, as well as the logic behind the Flames signing him to a 5-year deal. Frolik was billed as the sort of player that can help a team in every capacity. That is exactly what he did this season.

Frolik jumped all around the line up at 5-on-5 play, contributed to the penalty kill and was very underutilized on the power play. Looking at his past couple of seasons in Winnipeg before joining the Flames, it was expected that Frolik could be counted on for about 1 point every 2 games and he delivered exactly that this year. On a team that has wildly struggled with possession stats, Michael Frolik posted the third best possession stats on the team at 51.44% CF, just behind Jakub Nakladal and Mikael Backlund. Unfortunately, Frolik suffered a couple of different injuries this season and the team was worse off without him.

Frolik is not a top-line player, he is not going to carry a team to the Stanley Cup, but he is the exact sort of player that Championship teams have in their middle-six. He is reliable, he drives the play the right way, he will contribute offensively and he is a quiet difference maker every night. His paring with Backlund this season was a beauty to watch and hopefully the Flames will keep them together for the foreseeable future. If the Flames next coach is as progressive and possession oriented as it seems like they may be, we should be seeing even more Frolik next season and the Flames will be better for it. I’m giving Frolik’s first season in Calgary an A-.

MarkParkinson14: B+

When the Flames inked Frolik in the off-season I was extremely excited and I don't think he disappointed. While his point totals were slightly off from previous seasons, he did only appear in 64 games. Frolik settled in nicely with Mikael Backlund forming a formidable scoring tandem. He finished the season on the plus side of takeaways/giveaways and finished 10th on the team in points. A few stints on the injured lost contributed to his numbers being down, but a full season should correct that problem. Frolik more than earned his new contract and I look forward to seeing what a healthy Frolik looks like in Calgary over a full season. B+

HockeyGoalieEh: A-

Frolik was a possession king for the Flames and helped to cement the play of their top lines. The scoring could have been a bit better, but the possession was stellar and he probably could have done more if the Flames had anything resembling an N.H.L. roster last year. Pair a decent left winger along with Mikael Backlund with him and the Flames should be sitting pretty on their second line.

MattyFranchise: B

BizzleJ: A-

Michael Frolik reminds me a lot of Jarome Iginla in that he is a player that multi-facited. He can score goals, he can set up goals, he can make good plays that lead to scoring chances, he can get under the skin of opponents by throwing his body around and stripping the puck away. Had he been used more on the power-play and played the full season, I think he would have easily had a career high in scoring. I like what I see so far and give Frolik an A-.

FlamesMM: B+

Frolik provides the Flames with a solid depth forward that can score, but also play at all positions. By no means is he going to be on that first line with Gaudreau and Monahan, but he does give the Flames a formidable second line. Frolik has the capability to a difference maker for the Flames which he was last season, however the differences he made often didn't end up on the scoreboard. If the Flames find a solid winger to go along with him and Backlund, the Flames could be sitting pretty with a stellar second line. Perhaps Matthew Tkachuk anyone? Frolik gets a B+ from me for being a player who consistently brought heart and effort last season and made a noticeable difference for the Flames when he was in the lineup.

by samwell9