The Edmonton Oilers might be keeping Trent Frederic around longer than expected, according to insider buzz from Friday’s rink talk.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports that while nothing will be announced during the Stanley Cup Final, the 27-year-old forward could be signing on for next season.
It’s been quite a journey for Frederic this year. He was having a tough season in Boston before the trade deadline, with just 8 goals and 7 assists in 57 games.
But there’s more to the story. Last year, he was pretty amazing for the Bruins, scoring 18 goals and adding 22 assists while delivering 204 hits. That followed a solid 2022-23 campaign where he put up 17 goals and 31 points.
The Oilers paid a hefty price to get him, sending two draft picks and two prospects in a three-team deal that brought both Frederic and Max Jones to Edmonton.
Things didn’t start smoothly in Edmonton. Frederic was hurt when he arrived and had to wait almost a month to play. Then he got injured again just 7 minutes into his first game.
But he’s bounced back in the playoffs. He’s played all 18 games, though his numbers aren’t jumping off the page – just one goal and three assists while averaging about 11½ minutes per game. He’s still making his presence felt with 66 hits.
The timing might be perfect for both sides to work something out. The Oilers have about $12 million in cap space for next season, but they’ll need a big chunk of that to sign rising star Evan Bouchard.
That’s where it gets interesting. While Frederic might get more money on the open market, he could choose to take a shorter deal with Edmonton. It’d give him a chance to rebuild his value while playing for a team that’s fighting for the Stanley Cup.
