After a disappointing season marred by injury and an identity crisis, Trent Frederic eyes redemption in Edmonton under a new coach and a clean bill of health.
There may be no better candidate for a bounce-back season in 2026-27 than Edmonton Oilers forward Trent Frederic. Healthier and coming into the year with a fresh perspective and a new coach, in a way, it's a new beginning.
Frederic spoke to Bob Stauffer of Oilers Now on Wednesday and was open about his struggles this past season. Injury, a rough start, and a lack of direction really hampered his ability to be the impact player he wants to be.
He's feeling rejuvinated, and with Mike Babcock coming in, Frederic feels ready to use the extra time to heal and train, then come in an impress. It seems quite plausible, given that he started to show signs of it toward the end of last season.
“I think after the break, I think I would say I was probably as close as 100% as I had been before the injury. But yeah, I think like going back to the last summer, I probably wasn’t able to skate until, geez, right around probably now (mid-August) I just barely started getting on the ice again. So I think this summer is — it’s unfortunate that we lost early — but it’s been great for myself just to get a full summer of training hard and really skating and at 100%. So it’ll be good.”
To say Frederic never found a rhythm would be an understatement. His numbers were beyond disappointing.
He had just signed a new eight-year deal at $3.85 million per year and it didn't take long for him to become the whipping boy for fans and media.
When asked if he felt a bit lost, he responded, “Yeah, I would say that’s fair." He added, “I don’t think I started off great. And like you said, I think I got lost and just kind of lost who I was. And I didn’t really have much of an identity. So hopefully, I’ve gained some confidence just getting away from the game and just enjoying it right now in the summer and having fun and working out and everything."
For all of the Oilers, it will be a new set of eyes working with them to get to the next level. For Frederic, it's not just new eyes, but eyes without bias. Had Knoblauch been back, Frederic would have been working from behind the 8-ball.
"So I’m just excited to come back next year and just have a fresh start. I’m pretty excited to have Babs (new coach Mike Babcock) and get kind of a complete fresh slate. So I’m excited about that.”
The two have already spoken, and so far, so good. "It seems like a coach that I think I’ll gel with and I think he’ll get the best out of me and get the most out of me so selfishly. And I think just for the team, I think it’s exactly what we need."
He says he's not the only one pumped up, but it's understandable why he might be a bit more jacked than others. This is a chance for Frederic to change the narrative that surrounds him.
There's a player there. Whether he'll ever be worth the eight-year commitment the Oilers gave him remains to be seen, but this coming season could sway many of his doubters if he rebounds.
Pegged as one of the ten worst contracts in the NHL, Frederic really doesn't need to do much to change people's opinions. He doesn't need to become a 20-goal guy. He doesn't have to fight every night. No one expects him to be a top-six producer. But, if he can impact the game on most of his shifts, bump, hit, pot a few goals, and perhaps play on the penalty kill, he'll be earning his money.
Frederic had just seven points in 74 games last season. He needs to do more. It's time he shows he can be more than a fourth-liner. Or, if he's on the fourth line, one of the most impactful fourth-liners in the NHL. He may not be the fastest player in the league, but he needs to play with a sense of explosiveness. He can't be a passenger.
If Frederic can find a way to tilt the ice, maybe work in tandem with Colton Dach, or figure a way to wreak havoc in front of the opposing goaltenders, opinions of him will change quickly. And that's what he wants and needs. The start to his 2026-27 season will be critical. Battling the court of public opinion while he's battling alongside his teammates will be a hard hill to climb.
But if he does what he showed he was capable of while a member of the Boston Bruins, he's got a shot at becoming a fan favorite.
Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss the latest news, game-day coverage, and more. Add us to your Google News favourites, and never miss a story.
