Before the 2025 NHL trade deadline, the Boston Bruins dealt Trent Frederic to the Edmonton Oilers in a three-team trade with the New Jersey Devils. The move was easy to understand, as the Bruins were out of the playoff race, and Frederic was a pending unrestricted free agent.

However, recent reports indicate that Frederic will be staying put in Edmonton rather than hitting the market, as the 2016 first-round pick is expected to sign a long-term contract extension.

According to FanDuel Sports Network's Andy Strickland, Frederic and the Oilers are in the process of finalizing an eight-year contract extension at around $4 million per season. Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli also added that Frederic's average annual value is expected to be over $3.5 million but less than $4 million.

If this deal comes to fruition, this is certainly a large contract for Frederic to receive, especially after how poorly his 2024-25 season went. In 58 regular-season games split between the Bruins and Oilers, he recorded just eight goals, seven assists, and a minus-16 rating. He also had one goal, three assists, and a plus-1 rating in 22 playoff games for Edmonton.

While Frederic is coming off a rough season, it is clear that the Oilers believe that the former Bruin can bounce back. Just back in 2023-24 with Boston, he set career highs with 18 goals, 22 assists, 40 points, and 204 hits. When playing at his best, Frederic can provide decent offense and a ton of grit. These elements of his game are likely playing a role in the Oilers wanting to keep him around in Edmonton for so long. However, there is no question that this reported deal will come with risks if he does not get things back on track. 

Bruins Free Agents: Who Will Stay & Who Will Go? After a tough 2024-25 season, the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/boston-bruins">Boston Bruins</a> have some big decisions to make when it comes to their roster this summer. Given how this campaign went, it would not be surprising in the slightest if we see some changes made to their group.

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