With the trade deadline less than a month away, the debate over who the Edmonton Oilers should target to bolster their lineup will soon be in full swing. I’d argue that one of their biggest needs is a pest-like, physical player for their bottom-six, who can also contribute on the scoresheet.

That said, Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli recently ranked the Boston Bruins’ Trent Frederic at No. 17 on his latest Trade Targets board, and the 6-foot-3 forward checks many boxes for what the Oilers could be looking for.

Frederic is a former first-round pick, taken 29th overall in the 2016 NHL Draft, and made his NHL debut during the 2019-20 season. Over the last couple of years, though, he’s started making more of an impact, hitting double digits in goals for the first time with 17 tallies in 2022-23 and he set career highs last season with 18 goals and 22 assists in 82 games. He also chipped in five points in 13 postseason games last playoffs.

He’s a pending UFA with a $2.3 million AAV, and he offers versatility by playing both wing and center while contributing to the penalty kill. That said, Frederic is having a down season in terms of point production, which, on the positive side, could lessen the price to acquire him. Still, there’s plenty to like—he’s a big, physical presence at 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds, and he ranks 22nd among NHL forwards in hits with 144.

Moreover, according to hockeyfights.com, he has 41 fights under his belt between the AHL and NHL, including four this season. That means the St. Louis, MO native knows how to mix things up, and if I were to pinpoint a need for Edmonton, it’s for another player that can fire up the bench when the team is struggling and the Oilers got a firsthand look at Frederic’s ability to stir the pot when they visited the Bruins on Jan. 7.

The Oilers were leading 1-0 and were badly outplaying the Bruins, with a 19-9 shot advantage midway through the second period. In that moment, Frederic knew his team needed a spark, so he went straight to the player he thought would take a fight—Corey Perry. Perry, the veteran, hesitated because his team was ahead, but eventually baited Frederic into taking an extra two minutes. When the two players finally locked up, the 27-year-old Frederic landed more punches, won the fight, and sparked energy into TD Gardens.

While the extra two minutes in penalties weren’t ideal, the overall intent was brilliant—his team was lifeless, and he took matters into his own hands by fighting to ignite energy in both his team and the crowd. Now, imagine how effective that could be for the Oilers, who have a recurring pattern of falling behind early in games and at times, need an energy boost. As well, it’s not just about the fighting—since fights are rarer in the playoffs— but also about being a pest (which Daily Faceoff’s Steven Ellis recently called him), getting the opposition off their game and using his physical presence to inject energy into the team.

I understand that Perry plays the role Frederic could be brought in for, but at 39 years old, I don’t think he can do it night in and night out. Still, I could see the much younger Frederic bringing it nightly and being a big asset in the playoffs for Edmonton by helping swing the momentum in a game. Right now, when the Oilers fall behind and just don’t have it from the start, head coach Kris Knoblauch’s go-to momentum changer is reuniting the ‘Supernova’ line—Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Zach Hyman. For the most part, that line gives the Oilers a jolt up and down the lineup, which helps them get their act together.

However, what if reuniting that momentum-changing line doesn’t sway momentum for them in the playoffs? Then what? Another option is instead of immediately pressing the panic button, Knoblauch could tap someone like Frederic on the shoulder to go out and lay a big hit or challenge someone to a fight. It could help bring the Oilers back into the game, and if that doesn’t work, then reuniting the Supernova line could be option No. 2.

Additionally, a look at Frederic’s playoff hits per game shows he steps up his intensity in the playoffs, delivering 53 hits in 13 postseason games (4.07 hits per game) last season, and for comparison, he averaged just 2.5 hits per game during the regular season. On top of that, he’s an agitator who likes to chirp on the ice, often finding himself mic’d up due to catchy sound bites, as What Chaos!’s Pete Blackburn said to him in an interview back in October, “I think part of the reason you’re probably mic’ed up more than anyone else, is endearingly, you start sh*t. You’re kind of annoying to play against.”

Alongside the physical edge he brings, the 27-year-old can play meaningful minutes (14:01 average TOI) and has a decent offensive game. Though he’s having a quieter season in terms of points, he set a career-high with 18 goals last year, 16 of which came at even strength, playing on the third line with Morgan Geekie and James Van Riemsdyk. That said, while he’s on pace for just 11 goals this season, a change of scenery could elevate his offence, which would make him a very useful bottom-six player who can chip in on the score sheet from time to time.

Given that, Oilersnation’s Tyler Yaremchuk recently discussed a possible fit for Frederic on the Oilers, saying:

In saying that, Evander Kane typically takes on the role Frederic would fill if he were added to the Oilers, and hopefully, Kane will be ready to play come playoffs. However, if so, Kane likely won’t be at 100%, given his time away from the game. But imagine facing the Vegas Golden Knights in another playoff series, and they throw out their fourth line consisting of their big guys’ Keegan Kolesar and Nicolas Roy. The Oilers could counter with a trio of Kane (even at 70% of his usual self), Frederic (who can play center), and Perry. That line could hurt you physically, possibly hurt your feelings with expert-level chirps, and still beat you on the scoresheet. With a Kane-Frederic-Perry line, the Oilers won’t be pushed around, no matter who the opposition sends out, allowing the top six to feel comfortable and play their game. Additionally, the Oilers have the flexibility to plug any of those players into different spots up and down the lineup when they want to mix things up.

That said, the Bruins are just a point out of a playoff spot, but if they decide to trade Frederic, they may prefer to send him to a Western Conference team, which bodes well in the Oilers’ favour. All in all, the 6-foot-3, 220-pound forward is exactly the type of player you want in the playoffs. If he could be acquired for a couple of mid-round draft picks, the Oilers should be all over it.

Overall, what are your thoughts on the Oilers acquiring Frederic for a playoff run?