The Edmonton Oilers acquired forward Trent Frederic at last year’s trade deadline. He was part of a three-team deal that helped boost the Oilers’ depth going into the playoffs. Unfortunately, things have not worked out all that well in Edmonton.
Stan Bowman signed Frederic to an eight-year extension worth a total of just under $31M. This contract was a bit confusing when it was first signed, and considering how poorly Frederic has performed, it makes sense to be bewildered about this.
Let’s take a look at why Frederic has not worked out.
No solid lineup placement
Through thirteen games this season, Frederic has one goal and one point. He was not brought into the organization to rack up points, but you would hope he could do better than that. The Oilers are a powerhouse for offence that should have no problem producing every night (yes, they have struggled a bit so far, but they will turn the ship around). With Zach Hyman out of the lineup, Frederic had the chance to play on the top line with Connor McDavid. It is safe to say that it simply did not work out. With Hyman nearing a return to the lineup, where should Frederic be placed?
Frederic has recently been playing on the third line. I think this is exactly where he should be in the lineup. Frederic is a great checking forward who can make a difference in a game with his physicality. It’s just unfortunate how his time in Edmonton has started. Because he does not get any time on special teams, I think it is unwise to judge Frederic on his lack of scoring. Yes, he hopefully would have scored more alongside McDavid, but that was only a temporary experiment.
Going forward, I think Frederic should have consistent time on the third line. A checking line of Podkolzin, Henrique, and Frederic could be a good option to set the tone. I currently think having Matt Savoie on the third line is confusing, as he has a different playing style from Henrique and Frederic. As of now, one can only hope that it is a matter of time before Frederic finds some consistency with the Oilers.
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Is an injury still bothering him?
A possible reason for Frederic’s unreasonable start is that he is still dealing with his ankle injury. Shortly before he was acquired by the Oilers last season, Frederic went on the injury reserve with an ankle sprain. He suited up for one regular season game with the Oilers last year and only lasted seven minutes. Frederic went back onto the injury reserve and did not return until the playoffs. It is a good question to ask whether or not he played through his injury during the playoff run.
One would hope that he fully recovered in the offseason, but his slow start can be an indication that his ankle is still bothering him. There has been no word as to whether he is still dealing with the injury, so maybe there is no excuse as to why he has struggled so far. On the bright side, Frederic is currently second on the team in hits, just behind Podkolzin. His toughness is why the Oilers brought him in, and he has not let that waver on his new team.
Frederic’s contract situation
As briefly mentioned before, Frederic’s contract is a tough one. It’s an eight-year deal that was handed to a depth forward who had a few good moments in Boston. In my opinion, this contract was not earned. In the NHL nowadays, we see young superstars get huge deals. This makes sense as these players can grow into these contracts and be locked up long-term by the franchise. However, Frederic’s contract is quite frankly like none other in the league. He is a third or fourth liner who has had a disappointing season so far. This contract leaves many hockey fans confused as to what the thought behind it was.
Through the first four years of the contract, Frederic has a no-movement clause in place. This means that he cannot be traded, sent to the minors, or waived without his approval. That ties the hands of Stan Bowman up, as no matter how good or bad the forward performs, he will be in the lineup. After the first four years are up, circumstances change on Frederic’s deal.
The final four years of the deal include a modified no-trade clause. Years five and six have a ten-team approved trade list, while years seven and eight have a twenty-team approved trade list. It is safe to say that Frederic will be an Oiler for quite some time. It is crucial to the organization that Frederic can perform well, as he has become a main piece of the Oilers’ future.
After back-to-back losses to the St. Louis Blues and the Dallas Stars, something needs to change in Oil Country. The team will get three days off before being back in action Saturday against the Colorado Avalanche.
Up Next: Should the Edmonton Oilers pursue Devon Levi
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