The Edmonton Oilers invested heavily in Trent Frederic, signing the forward to an eight-year extension that includes a movement clause for the first four years. The message from management was that they see something in this player that is hard to find in the NHL. Yet results through 15 games this season have been disappointing, with one point and limited impact in games suggesting he hasn’t quite figured out where he fits yet.
With fans and analysts already questioning the decision to sign him to an eight-year contract, a former NHLer turned analyst suggests that Frederic should embrace the idea of becoming a lightning rod on the ice, not a lightning rod on the ice.
Instead of letting people talk about how little he does, Frederic has to enter games with a bully mentality. Look for a few moments in every match where he turns heads as he makes life difficult for the opponent and perhaps even almost crosses a line.
Running someone. Get dirty. Be a pest. All of these things draw attention to Frederic and open the ice for others on the Oilers.
Why isn’t Frederic doing this for the Oilers yet?
Given that Frederic has the frame and there is a history in Boston of being open to playing this style of hockey, why didn’t Frederic find his job in a similar way with the Oilers?
Part of the struggle may have to do with the lingering effects of Frederic’s ankle injury, which sidelined him for much of last season and limited him to just seven minutes in his lone regular-season game. While he returned for the play-offs, his slow start in 2025-26 suggests the injury could still be a factor.
In defense, he is second on the team in goals and seems to be getting around slowly. Production is still a concern, but the Oilers didn’t necessarily sign him to score a bunch of goals. Still, he needs to go the extra mile, and while he’s not scoring, Frederic needs to agitate, put pressure on opponents and draw attention to justify his contract.
Frederic’s no-movement clause ties Stan Bowman’s hands, so it’s up to the player to find his job. Until Frederic finds consistency and embraces the role he has in mind, fans will rally behind his cause.
His performance isn’t just about points; it’s about realizing a vision that the team has invested heavily in. He needs to become the player that fans of other teams hate, but Oilers fans love because he plays for Edmonton.
Next: Hiring Now: NHL Trade Talk Writers/Contributors
#Trent #Frederic #embrace #role #determine #Oilers #future