Now that we’re well into the Edmonton Oilers’ offseason, I’ve been wondering what a successful summer looks like if you’re Trent Frederic. Gord knows we’ve got a long time to think about it.

You don’t have to say much other than it was an ugly first year in Edmonton for Freddy, and I think there are a lot of fine Nation Citizens around here who have already thrown in the towel. That’s not to say I blame them. His four goals and three assists in 74 games missed expectations by an international flight, let alone for a guy in the first year of an eight-year contract at $3.85 million per season. The fans were pissed, and rightfully so. But I also don’t think the frustration came from anyone expecting Frederic to be a 25-goal scorer, but when a player signs for an eternity, you want to see the guy do more than wind up as a healthy scratch in the playoffs. That seems fair to me.

Given that it’s highly unlikely Frederic will be on the move, I’m trying to figure out what our expectations should be for him going forward. Is he really only a fourth-line player? Can he be a guy who makes life miserable in the corners and around the crease? Is there more offence there than what we saw in year one? Can he have more than a shift or two where the puck doesn’t die on his stick? That’s what this summer has to be about for me. I don’t think Frederic needs to reinvent himself, but he absolutely needs to come into camp with a clearer identity than the one we saw in his first year in Edmonton. He can’t come into training camp starting on the first line with Connor and Leon, only to end up in the press box when the games matter most. He needs to find a role and embrace it.

HE’S DONE IT BEFORE

Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images

Jan 7, 2025; Boston,........

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