Michael Frolik departed from the Winnipeg Jets to sign an over 5-year deal worth 21.5 million dollars with the Calgary Flames. Did the Calgary Flames make a mistake by investing this rather large contract into Frolik or was it the Winnipeg Jets who made this mistake of not investing a large contract into Michael Frolik.
During the past 2014-2015 NHL season Michael Frolik played over 82 games with the Winnipeg Jets, finishing 3rd in the league in games played. Frolik tallied over 19 goals and 23 assists adding up to a 42 point season as a right winger for the Jets.
One of Frolik’s most useful qualities has to be his ability to stay healthy. During the 2013-2014 season Frolik played 81 games with the Jets and during the 2014-2015 season he played 82 games with the Jets. Frolik was drafted by the Florida Panthers 10th overall in 2006. During the 2009-2010 season (Frolik’s second full season in Florida) he would play over 82 games and amass 43 points.
Winnipeg Jets
During the 2014-2015 season the Jets saw Michael Frolik third on the team with 19 goals. Frolik 2nd amongst the Jets right wingers and 6th overall on the team in points. What is really impressive is that Frolik played over 82 games for the Jets, yet he only had 18 penalty minutes. Frolik finished 3rd amongst the Jets players with 4 game winning goals.
So here the question lies whether or not Frolik was a player worthy of high investment? Frolik does not put up superstar statistics, only amassing 42 points in 82 games play, but he does stay healthy and that is crucial in this league. Another important aspect of Frolik’s play is that he stays out of the penalty box and that is really impressive considering the amount of games he plays a season. Another really interesting aspect of Frolik’s play is that with 19 goals this season, he had over 4 GW goals this season (21.05 % of all his goals during the regular season).
Frolik is the type of player who may not impress you with his goals or even his assists for that matter, but impresses you with the lesser appreciated stats that often go overlooked. The Jets should have invested into Frolik, because he adds depth to the team in the lesser appreciated (but always important) categories such as penalty minutes and game winning goals. Players like these are crucial to long playoff runs and team success as a whole.
What do you guys think? Should the Winnipeg Jets have re-signed Frolik? Should they have invested as much as the Flames did into him? Will Frolik find success with the Flames? Join in on the debate and comment below!
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