The Edmonton Oilers added three players ahead of this season’s trade deadline.
Max Jones made an impact in his debut on Thursday against the Montreal Canadiens and Jake Walman will likely suit up for the team on Saturday when they host the Dallas Stars.
When will we see Trent Frederic play for the Oilers for the first time? It shouldn’t be too much longer, according to general manager Stan Bowman.
The tenacious forward suffered a lower-body injury in late-February when playing for the Boston Bruins and was placed on the Injured Reserve before being traded to Edmonton. When speaking to the media after Friday’s deadline, Bowman said that Frederic will “certainly” be in the team’s lineup before the beginning of April.
“Timing wise, it’s a couple of weeks,” Bowman said. “He’s certainly going to play before April but I don’t know exactly when that will be.”
Listed at 6-foot-3, 220 pounds, Frederic is going to add some much-needed size and physical play to the Oilers’ forward group. The 29th overall pick from the 2016 draft scored 35 goals between 2022-23 and 2023-24 but declined to just eight goals and 15 points in a difficult 2024-25 season with the Bruins.
According to Bowman, Frederic will get an opportunity to play in the Oilers’ top-six and he’ll also get a look as the team’s third-line centre. Bowman added that fans in Edmonton and players on the team will appreciate the gritty forward’s style of play and his upbeat energy.
“I think his game will translate very well for the team and the fans,” Bowman said. “He’s got a great personality that loves life. He’s upbeat, optimistic, and fun to be around… He brings an element we don’t have. He’s a lot to handle.”
The Oilers sit in second place in the Pacific Division with a 36-22-4 record, four points back of the Vegas Golden Knights and five points up on the Los Angeles Kings. The team is ninth in the NHL with 200 goals, 13th with 181 goals against, and 32nd with just 808 hits thrown in 62 games.
