I doubt Frost has top-line potential at this point, but that doesn't mean the only other option is 'meh'. It is tough to win without a 2nd line center - just ask Colorado. You need depth down the middle.
Regardless of how you view Frost, his upside is anywhere between a passable 1st line center to an average 2nd line center. Let's see how he pops (or not - maybe things don't click). My bet is that - for the most part - we will be happy that he is on the team.
The Flames have nothing in the pipeline at center other than Zary. Unless they were going to draft in the top 5 or 10, they wouldn't be able to replace Kadri and/or Backlund in the lineup with what they had organizationally for years. it was either trade for one, or hope to sign one as a UFA (which in a market like Calgary, is easier said than done). Conroy HAD to get a center at some point sooner rather than later.
Kadri is 34, and Backlund is 35. Next year Kadri is 35, and Backlund 36. At some point very soon, Calgary will need to replace Backlund and Kadri, and drafting one this draft and that prospect taking 3+ years to develop won't be of much help.
I have no idea how Frost will fit in. He has been in the NHL. This is his 6th pro season, and he has a career high of 46pts. Does this mean that there is no more room to grow? I doubt that. How much is the question, but there is certainly a very good chance that he improves on his numbers here. The Flyers have been dysfunctional.
Even if he ends up topping out as a ~50pt center, that's ok too. Huska will have him playing reliable defence while doing it. He can be a long-term solution here, and who knows how good his production will be? We have yet to see him in a single game here. By the end of this season, we will be better able to judge the fit and be able to project him a bit more. He isn't some 20 year old 1st year player, but he is hardly a seasoned vet at the very heights of his production either.
As for any hand-wringing about rebuilding and acquiring top-end players through the top of the draft - who knows what next year brings? Maybe the Flames end up taking a big step back next season with age, injuries, poor luck, or whatever. Worst case is that, if needed, they could probably sell Frost (or Farabee) for more than they picked them up for at next year's trade deadline.
I love Pelletier, and one would think that Kuzmenko had very little value. It is arguable who had more value - Pelletier, or the 2nd. Although Pelletier was really starting to pop here and really starting to fit-in, and even though I am positive there is no way that he would have passed through waivers again, I am not sure that the Flames could have traded him for a 2nd. So Frost + Farabee in my opinion cost at best two second round picks and a 7th.
I bet on a team with stronger leadership, more stable coaching (I don't like Torts and don't think he is a good coach at all), and maybe more opportunity here in Calgary, I would bet that IF this team does end up having to do a u-turn and go full rebuild, they could probably sell these players for much more than they paid for them.
I am just excited to see the new lines and what Huska does with them. They will find some footing on here eventually. It was sad to see a good story in Pelletier go, but there are plenty of good stories to follow here this year. The emergence of Coronato. The re-invention of Huberdeau away from a high-end but easy player to play against into a difficult to play against goal score. The ageless Backlund and Kadri. The Andersson stare down and chirps. The potential (way too early, but interesting) popping of Klapka. Flames finally 'releasing the hounds' or, more correctly, the Wolf. How this team overall is proving the doubters (including myself) wrong.
Now we get to see how Frost and Farabee fit-in, and how a good coach like Huska will find a way to get the most out of them. Meanwhile, Torts is ruining yet another team, but hopefully Pelletier can push through as I don't imagine Torts is going to be there too much longer.
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