The Edmonton Oilers were very active at the 2025 Trade Deadline last spring, spending multiple picks to shore up their squad for what would become their second straight Stanley Cup finals run, unfortunately ending in defeat.
However, the team was able to thankfully retain both of their major acquisitions; Jake Walman and Trent Frederic. Both players are expected to play key roles this upcoming season with Walman finding chemistry with Oilers longest tenured defenseman, Darnell Nurse. He still had another year remaining on his contract, carrying a cap hit of $3.4 million annual average value (AAV) until July 1st, 2026.
Frederic on the other hand, was in a different situation. He took over a month to make his debut with the Oilers, playing just a single regular season game with his new team before embarking on a deep playoff run. His play was not where you want it and many Oilers fans seemed to sour on the forward.
He was also an unrestricted free agent (UFA) set to hit the open market. The Oilers and his camp were able to avoid that outcome and come to terms on a max term, eight-year extension, with an AAV of $3.85 million. The contract is a little rich but given it locks in the 27 year old until he is 35 and with the NHL salary cap set to rise substantially in the coming years, it should age just fine.
Frederic expectations
There is no denying that Frederic struggled last season, even before he was acquired by general manager Stan Bowman. The winger had suffered an ankle injury that he was recovering from when the club traded for him and even after his acquisition, he played only one game in the regular season. This came on the Oilers California road trip, against the Los Angeles Kings, which reaggravated his injury and forced him to miss more time leading into the postseason.
This was obviously not an ideal situation, he missed nearly six weeks before being thrown into a game with a new team, he then reaggravated his injury and then was thrown into a deep playoff run, with a team he has played less than 10 minutes of ice-time with.
Injuries aside, the season overall was one to forget, he played 57 games with the Boston Bruins, scoring eight goals and seven assists for 15 points and was held off the scoresheet for his lone regular season game in Oil country. This production is quite the step back from his totals in the previous two years, scoring 31 points (17 goals, 14 assists) in 79 games in 2022-23 and then setting career highs in 2023-24 with 18 goals, 22 assists for 40 points through 82 contests.
The team clearly hopes that the player they are getting more closely resembles the one that Boston had in 2022-23 and 2023-24, the guy who can play a physical middle-six role while also scoring at a reasonable rate. He is a player who adds a much needed element to the Oilers and the club clearly hopes he can bring it.
He is best when utilized alongside of skilled linemates, as a more physical presence who can battle along the boards and in front of the net. As an Oiler, this gives him a few lines he can play on and could allow him to thrive on. I am sure given the financial and long term commitment the club gave him, that he will be given every opportunity to succeed in a variety of roles.
I think a reasonable expectation for Frederic would be that he plays on the wing in the top nine, if he can go above the third line, he should be able to hit if not beat his career highs of 40 or more points. However, if he stays on the third line through most of the year, he should be able to pace closer to the 30-35 point range.