The Rangers Alex Frolov experiment

The Alex Frolov experiment was an attempt by the Rangers management at the time to bolster the teams scoring and provide support for their leading scorer, Marian Gaborik. On one hand, they deserved recognition for bringing in an established scorer who could complement Gaborik as a secondary offensive option.

On the other hand, it exposed their deficiency in developing scoring talent in their minor league system and their inability to identify dependable secondary options. This assessment is not a critique of Alex Frolov as a player, but rather a recognition that by the time he departed from Los Angeles, he had experienced a decline in performance compared to previous seasons.

Alex Frolov’s career began when he was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft. Before his NHL debut, he played in Russian lower-tier leagues, gradually progressing to higher levels with Krylya Sovetov Moscow. In 2002, he signed with the Kings and had an impressive start to his NHL career, scoring his first goal in his rookie season. He continued to improve in the following season.

During the 2004-05 NHL lockout, Frolov returned to Russia and played for CSKA Moscow and Dynamo Moscow, putting up strong performances. In 2005, he signed a significant contract with the Kings and achieved milestones like his first NHL hat-trick. He also represented Russia in the 2006 Winter Olympics, although he suffered a shoulder injury. Despite the setback, he had a productive season.

In the following seasons, Alex Frolov continued to progress, achieving career-highs in goals and points. However, he faced injury setbacks that caused him to miss games. After the 2009-10 season, he became an unrestricted free agent and signed a one-year deal with the Rangers. Regrettably, Frolov couldn’t replicate his scoring success with the Rangers as he had done with the Los Angeles Kings.

Despite the scoring challenges, Frolov maintained a regular role on the second power-play unit, and coach John Tortorella had confidence in his abilities, particularly in puck protection and off-the-puck play. As a result, when choosing a winger for defensive situations or late in close games, the coach often turned to Frolov.

Unfortunately, his season with the Rangers was cut short due to a torn ACL in his right knee. He underwent surgery and concluded the season with 16 points in 43 games, marking the end of his NHL career.

After leaving the NHL, Frolov embarked on a KHL journey, joining Avangard Omsk. Despite enduring knee injuries, he retired from professional hockey in 2014. However, he made an unexpected comeback in 2015, signing with Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod in the KHL. After several years in the KHL, Frolov took a unique career turn by signing with a South Korean club before ultimately concluding his professional hockey career.

The Alex Frolov experiment arrived a season or two later than it should have. While the Rangers’ attempt to enhance their offensive firepower was admirable, it involved a player who had visibly declined and underscored the team’s shortage of scoring options both in the NHL lineup and in their minor league system.

Frolov remained a personal favorite, but it became clear that his peak performance was behind him. Fortunately, the current Rangers management has made significant progress in securing depth talent through the draft and successful free agency moves in recent seasons.