Trent Frederic hasn’t had the most productive season in terms of offense after enjoying a career-year in 2023-24. The Boston Bruins forward has struggled to find a groove with just five goals and and six assists in 38 games.
After putting up a career-high in goals, assists and points last season, Frederic appeared to be making a case for himself for a nice pay raise in a contract year. But he’s struggled to find chemistry on the third line — though some of that could be contributed to the lines being jumbled throughout the season as well as being moved back and forth from center to wing.
“Freddy’s been fine. There’s a lack of production, obviously. He hasn’t scored in a while,” Bruins interim head coach Joe Sacco told reporters after Monday’s practice. “Freddy’s biggest thing is he’s gotta continue to start moving his feet and continue to move his feet when he’s playing. And he has to be physical. I think that’s a big component of his. When he’s playing hard in the defensive zone, if he’s battling down low … finishing his checks when they’re there, being hard on pucks – that’s when Freddy — his game elevates. … When Freddy brings the physical component to his game, usually things take care of itself.”
The production might be lacking, but Frederic’s name has popped up in trade rumors over the last few weeks. SportsNet Elliotte Friedan and ESPN’s Kevin Weekes have both reported there are teams interested in the 26-year-old. Unlike Morgan Geekie, who sees everything on the internet, Frederic mostly stays away.
“I don’t have Twitter, so I don’t see it all. I saw something on Instagram a month or two ago, scrolling through and you see yourself. But other than that, I don’t know,” Frederic told reporters. “I don’t really focus on it too much. Like I said, I just take it day-by-day, just do my best, and I’m sure whatever happens will happen.”
Frederic, who’s spent all seven of his NHL seasons with Boston, expressed before the season started his desire to be a lifelong Bruin.
“This is all I know, honestly,” Frederic said in September. “I feel super close with all the staff, the community. It’s very cool to see the community and how passionate they are. When you dream of playing in the NHL you dream of playing for a team like the Bruins. Getting all the love that we get, it’s pretty cool.
“Not many NHL teams are like this. It obviously comes with added pressure, but that’s kind of what you want: Big market team with a great organization, great people. And I feel like management and ownership care so much about character. And I think when you’re doing this job — it’s about wins and losses — but it’s every day you’re with these people for eight hours. You’re traveling together, eating together, doing everything and that’s vry important to me is having those good people.”
While Frederic’s future with the Bruins remains uncertain, his main focus is finding more confidence with the smaller things because “it results in big things like goals.”
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