The Edmonton Oilers' top line has a new look this preseason, and it features a player not many would have expected: Trent Frederic. With Zach Hyman sidelined until November, Frederic is getting a chance of a lifetime skating next to Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
The three-team deadline trade
The Oilers pulled off a creative three-team deal with the Bruins and Devils to bring in Frederic. First, Boston sent Trent Frederic (50% salary retained) to New Jersey for the rights to prospect Petr Hauser. The Devils then flipped Frederic to Edmonton for the rights to Shane Lachance.
Finally, Boston moved Max Jones and Hauser’s rights to the Oilers in exchange for defense prospect Max Wanner, a 2025 second-round pick (from St. Louis) and a 2026 fourth-round pick.
For Edmonton, the headline was landing Frederic — a 6’3”, 221-pound forward known for his physical edge. At the time of the trade, he had 8 goals and 15 points in 57 games with Boston and ranked among the team leaders in hits (155 this season, 204 the year before). Originally a first-round pick in 2016 (29th overall), Frederic had 109 career points in 337 games when he arrived in Edmonton.
The New Contract: A Long-Term Bet
Edmonton didn’t just trade for Frederic as a rental. In June, the Oilers gave him an eight-year deal worth $30.8 million (AAV $3.85M). That’s a clear sign they believe Frederic is part of their long-term plans. For a player who’s never hit 20 goals in a season, that’s a strong commitment — but it also shows the Oilers see him as more than just a depth forward.
His Versatility: Center or Wing, Physical Edge
Frederic brings a toolkit the Oilers value. He can line up at center or on the wing, though his 44.4 faceoff percentage leaves questions about whether he should be trusted down the middle full-time. What makes him valuable is his 200-foot game and physical style. He averages 163 hits per 82 games, which gives McDavid and Draisaitl more room to operate.
His shot is efficient too — a career shooting percentage of 11.3. When you add that to his two strongest NHL seasons (18 goals and 40 points in 2023-24, 17 goals and 31 points in 2022-23), you see why Edmonton wanted him. Last year, injuries slowed him down and he didn’t repeat those numbers, but the track record is there.
The Opportunity: Top Line Minutes in Preseason
Against Vancouver this past weekend, Frederic made the most of his top-line audition. He picked up two points (1G, 1A), and through three preseason games he’s posting strong underlying numbers — a 55.7 corsi for and 55.6 expected goals for percentages. That’s exactly what you want to see from a player trying to prove he can keep up with elite talent.
But let’s be clear: this is Hyman’s spot when he’s healthy. Frederic is holding the place for now, and that’s fine. He doesn’t need to be a permanent first-liner — what he needs to show is that he can complement McDavid and Draisaitl in the short term without being a liability.
When Hyman returns, Frederic should slide into a third-line role, likely next to Adam Henrique and Matt Savoie. That would give Edmonton a balanced bottom six with scoring touch and physical edge.
Final Thought
Trent Frederic is not going to suddenly turn into a 30-goal scorer just because he’s skating with McDavid and Draisaitl. But this is his chance to prove he can be a reliable piece in a top-six role when injuries hit and a physical presence in the bottom six when everyone is healthy.
The Oilers invested eight years in him for a reason. If he finds his stride — finishing checks, winning battles, and chipping in offensively — Frederic could become the type of glue player every Cup contender needs.