Friday, July 30, 2010

A Look at Alexander Frolov's Declining Value and Production

Filed under: Kings, Rangers, NHL Free AgencyIn a free agent class that is short on difference-makers and impact players, Alexander Frolov's name is an intriguing -- and curious -- one. He is an undeniably talented player and a smooth puck handler, has twice scored 30 goals (including just two years ago) and averages more than 50 points per season in the NHL. And he's still seen his value on the open market plummet.

He's coming off a season that saw his production (raw numbers: goals, points) decline for the third consecutive year, while his per-game averages were among the worst of his career. The low point of his season was probably in mid-October when Los Angeles Kings head coach Terry Murray publicly criticized him and made him a healthy scratch against the Dallas Stars, saying to Rich Hammond at the time: "I haven't been happy with Fro's game for several games. The game the other night is the straw that broke the camel's back, in my opinion. The turnovers, the careless play... It has to be better, and you have to come out with that high level of intensity, with smart work, hard work, and you've got to love the game. You've got to love the game in order to be a player. The talent is there, but it always is the work that brings out talent. And I need more."

Even with all of that, his resume is probably the best one remaining on the free agent market (well, not counting Ilya Kovalchuk). The Rangers were willing to take a swing for the fences, signing the young player. But what will they be getting, and what was behind Frolov's disappointing 2009-10 campaign? Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Commentswomen\\\'s board shorts tickets now coleman tents

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