Trent Frederic Goes From "Running for Mayor" To Healthy Scratch And Back: What Now?

Head coach Mike Babcock and forward Trent Frederic spoke with the Edmonton Oilers media Monday morning, answering questions about Frederic being a healthy scratch for Saturday's game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Asked if there was specific messaging as he returns to the lineup, Frederic said, "Just play harder. Be harder on the puck.

"I think when I have the puck, winning my battles and playing actually physical. Get some heavy hits," he said. It was the kind of play the Oilers certainly could have used on Saturday versus Toronto. On the losing end of a 7-2 blowout, the Oilers' lack of compete was obvious. Frederic and the kind of game he's being asked to play were missed. 

He understands the message and is trying to learn from it. "Everyone wants to play. Everyone wants to play more. Everyone wants to score more. That's just human nature; that's why everyone is at this level. You listen to the coach and take the news. Listen to what he has to say and his insight. He has pretty good insight." He noted, "Just gotta take that, and hopefully it doesn't happen again."

"I know I'll get this going. It can be frustrating, but I know I'm a good hockey player and I know I'll get this going. It can be frustrating, but at the same time, just go out and work my hardest and do the best I can."

"We're just a work in progress," said head coach Mike Babcock. "I thought it was going pretty good and then I didn't like it as much."

Babcock was asked about Frederic specifically, especially after having a big scrap that lifted his team against Utah. "Freddy was running for Mayor; he couldn't walk around town, for crying out loud. He did such a good job, and we respect that. But there are certain things that we just expect from him, and we've gone through and laid it out as clearly as you can be, and we expect that. That's what we're looking for."

Frederic will have a chance to give the Oilers and the coach what they need on Monday night as they take on the Detroit Red Wings. The Oilers' bottom six needs to play a bigger role to give the top-line guys a chance to breathe. Babcock has been running them hard. He hasn't wanted to, and he needs guys like Frederic to play a bigger role more consistently. 

It's not just a chance for Frederic to bounce back, but for the Oilers to rebound from what might have been their worst game of the season on Saturday. Puck drop is at 7:30 pm.

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