As quickly as he arrived, it appeared he was gone.
Just six seconds into Trent Frederic’s first game with the Edmonton Oilers, fans and pundits alike all held their collective breath as it appeared he was already hurt after trying to show off one of his best tools: his physicality. After all, he’s been out since late February healing from an ankle injury.
A reaggravation, perhaps?
“There was a little revaluation, just finding out how he’s feeling,” said Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch after the team’s 3-0 loss to the Los Angeles Kings Saturday.”And then he continued to play after that.”
Collective exhale.
Fans of the team have been itching to see what he could bring to the table for the team after the Oilers acquired him days before the NHL trade deadline in a complicated three-way trade where the team parted with a pair of prospects, Shane Lachance and Max Wanner, and a pair of picks. A physical edge, some offence, a way to get under the opponents skin and the ability to drop the mitts were all appetizing and what the team was in need of.
Frederic’s debut wasn’t a long one, playing just 7:10 in the game, but he made his presence felt, taking two shots, laying a pair of hits and getting into the crease of Kings goalie Darcy Kuemper.
“I thought he played really well,” said Knoblauch. “Obviously, his minutes were a little lower tonight, but when he was on the ice, I loved his game. I liked what he gives us: a little presence around the net, some feistyness.
“He was able to make some nice plays on the breakout but it will be nice when (he has) a few games under his belt, he’ll be a lot more comfortable with our team. He’ll be a welcome addition for our team.”
There’s no doubt the Oilers felt the loss of Leon Draisaitl from the lineup, joining the likes of Connor McDavid, Mattias Ekholm, Stuart Skinner and Evander Kane as impact players for the team who are shelved with a variety of injuries.
Los Angeles didn’t throw anything the Oilers haven’t seen at them, Knoblauch would add.
“That team is almost identical,” he said. “They changed their neutral zone a little bit, but it’s almost the exact same, just the pieces moved around a little bit. It’s the same format.”
The Oilers schedule continues on Monday night when they pay visit to the Anaheim Ducks, before returning home to host the St. Louis Blues Wednesday and the San Jose Sharks on Friday night.
Zach Laing is Oilersnation’s associate editor, senior columnist, and The Nation Network’s news director. He also makes up one-half of the DFO DFS Report. He can be followed on Twitter, currently known as X, at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach.laing@bettercollective.com.
