Boston Bruins Forward ‘Earned And Deserves’ First-Line Promotion

Trent Frederic logged two assists while skating with Brad Marchand and Charlie Coyle in the Boston Bruins' 3-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes Wednesday night at TD Garden.

Trent Frederic, the first line winger.

It’s a sentence that might’ve not rolled off the tongue with ease in seasons past, but the Boston Bruins forward has forged a dependable, consistent and fiery identity for himself within Jim Montgomery’s lineup this year.

A late, third period goal saw the Bruins fall 3-2 to the Carolina Hurricanes Wednesday night at TD Garden. However, Boston’s two tallies came from Brad Marchand, and Frederic picked up assists on both during his first-line promotion.

The 25-year-old started the night on the third line with Morgan Geekie and Jakub Lauko, but a lack of offensive spark prompted Montgomery to shake things up – inserting Frederic onto the right wing where David Pastrnak once was. Charlie Coyle remained at center.

“The lines, there wasn’t much going on. I thought Frederic was skating well so that’s why I moved him up there,” Montgomery said Wednesday. “There was a speed and physical element on every line, that’s what I was hoping to achieve.”

It wasn’t a random move, though. Frederic’s body of work this season has represented a shift in his role for the Bruins. Frederic, who has 13 goals and 14 assists through 47 games, is four points away from his 2022-23 total of 31. He’s also got five points in the last five games and has gotten time on the second power play unit while averaging 13:40 of total ice time.

“If I look back at maybe my first 100 games, I wasn’t seeing much. Just kind of working hard and skating,” Frederic said Wednesday of his development. “I think just the more you play, it slows down a little bit. Still a really fast game, but you see a little bit more.”

Boston started its short-lived comeback against the Hurricanes in the beginning of the third period. Frederic battled along the boards and pushed the puck across the crease to Marchand who knocked it in for a 2-1 score at 1:30.

“It’s nice playing with those guys. [Marchand] has 900 points in this league and [Coyle] is not far behind. So I try to get those guys the puck, and I try to work hard,” Frederic said.

Marchand’s second goal of the night – a rebound off Coyle’s initial shot – was also set up by Frederic who forced the puck up the left side of the ice and into the offensive zone before dishing it towards the Carolina slot.

“That faceoff goal they scored was all him,” Montgomery said. “Just carrying the puck, attacking the middle, making a great play with Charlie Coyle and getting the puck to the net.”

Frederic’s first-line status likely won’t be a regular occurrence, but he didn’t look out of place. Instead, he thrived. Frederic can be the enforcer, play at center if needed or get to work on the wing – his versatility has been a gift for the Bruins this year – and he’s skating with swagger while doing so.

“Trent Frederic is a real confident player,” Montgomery said. “He’s playing real good hockey for us now, and it’s been a long time. He’s earned and deserves the ice time he’s getting.”