Ever since the Boston Bruins took Trent Frederic in the first round of the 2016 NHL Draft, he has been one of the team’s most intriguing prospects.
The St. Louis native made a name for himself due to his grit and attention to detail, qualities which have become closely associated with the organization over the years. As a result, Frederic’s rise has been closely followed and last season he finally got his chance.
As the Bruins bottom-six struggled to generate offense, Frederic was one of the many prospects the Bruins called upon. The 21-year-old made his debut on Jan. 29 against Winnipeg and he made his presence felt right away. In the second period, Frederic fought Brandon Tanev, showing that he would not back down from any challenge. It quickly made him a fan favorite and showed his toughness.
Frederic’s stay, however, was brief as he only appeared in 14 more games at the NHL level. Offensively, the former first-round pick struggled and failed to record a point. Although he was able to land 14 hits, he only averaged 9:24 of ice time. The Bruins prospect showed that he was physically prepared for the NHL, but his offensive game needed improvement.
Despite his struggles in the NHL Frederic ended the season on a positive note. In four playoff games for Providence, he had two assists and a rating of plus one. He continued his solid play in the AHL where he has 33 points in 68 career games. With an opportunity open at the NHL level, Frederic has the chance to make a much better second impression in Boston.
So far this offseason the only competition Boston has brought in are Brett Richie and Par Lindholm. Although they are higher on the depth chart, Frederic is ready for the challenge. The opportunity is there for the former first-round pick; all he has to do is take advantage.
This upcoming season there will be less pressure on Frederic to carry the Bruins offensively. If he does make the opening night roster, it will most likely be in a bottom-six spot. That, however, does not mean he will play an insignificant role. In the playoffs, the Bruins third line was their best at times and the fourth line was equally important.
Additionally, it is where his playing style fits perfectly. Frederic could use his size to his advantage with less pressure to contribute offensively. He would be expected to record between 20-30 points which he did throughout his collegiate career.
Although Frederic’s offensive ceiling may not be very high, he could still be a valuable part of the Bruins roster. There is no guarantee that he will make the team, however, the opportunity is his for the taking. If he can prove in training camp that he’s learned from his first NHL stint, then he could find himself on the roster opening night.
