What Trent Frederic’s Growing Role, Confidence With Bruins Could Mean Going Forward
Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports - What Trent Frederic’s Growing Role, Confidence With Bruins Could Mean Going ForwardBOSTON – Trent Frederic wasn’t even supposed to be here.
The Boston Bruins power play ranks fifth in the NHL (27.0%), but Frederic has never factored into that. However, after James van Riemsdyk left Boston’s morning skate early on Saturday with an undisclosed injury, Frederic slotted into the second unit.
He told The Hockey News he wasn’t entirely sure he’d be playing on the unit when the Bruins faced the Tampa Bay Lightning later that night, but he knew what his role would be if he had the opportunity.
“If I get out there, just kind of screening the goalie a little bit when guys are shooting it, trying to help recover pucks behind the net, and when I get the puck, try to make the right plays,” Frederic told The Hockey News after Saturday’s skate. “Have that mindset of first take it to the net. If nothing’s there, could always try to make a play, a safe play, from there.”
Sure enough, the 25-year-old forward was on the second unit for Boston’s first power play opportunity. Positioned just to the right of the net, Frederic received Kevin Shattenkirk’s pass from the point and displayed good hands to spin around and roof the puck past Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy. With his first NHL power-play goal, Frederic tied the game 1-1 at 4:42 of the first period.
Frederic scored again at 1:49 of the second period to make it 3-1, and Boston ended up winning 7-3 for their fifth win in six games.
“I think his confidence has increased, his poise with the puck, and he’s got tremendous hands,” Bruins coach Jim Montgomery said after the game. “In practice, he scores more than anyone except for [Pastrnak]. I think it’s coming, you know, the kind of player he is. He’s just got to keep being really focused on his habits and details and moving his feet. He’s doing those things, I expect him to keep scoring like he is.”
Frederic is up to 21 points and 12 goals through 38 games this season. He posted a career-high 31 points in 79 games last season and is on pace to shatter that for a new high. His efficiency over the past month-plus has been on another level. Frederic’s 13 points in 19 games since Nov. 25 is tied for the most points by forwards averaging under 14 minutes per game, according to 98.5’s Ty Anderson.
His growing production and confidence earned him a fill-in spot on the power play, but his recent performance could lead to even more opportunities, which would theoretically boost his production and value to the team even more.
Montgomery said Frederic’s athleticism and finishing ability is what led to giving him the opportunity on the power play, and the coach’s belief has fueled Frederic to reach his potential.
Frederic pointed to Montgomery having him take a short-handed face-off in the defensive zone against Steven Stamkos at 6:55 of the third period as an example of the trust he’s felt to expand his role on the team.
“I lost it [the face-off], but it’s still just the fact that he’s given me that opportunity, it kind of goes a long way,” Frederic said. “Even though maybe it’s not something, like, said. It’s just kind of by action, I guess.”
Frederic knew his power-play goal was the first of his career, even suggesting it might have been his first shot on the man advantage, but he did not keep the milestone puck.
“It could be the last, maybe I should have kept it,” he said jokingly.
Although based on his recent performance and the way Montgomery has been speaking about him, it probably won’t be.
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