Trent Frederic is looking like a different player this season, and for the Edmonton Oilers, that matters.
The 28-year-old forward is still skating fewer minutes than he did a year ago, down to 10:04 per game from 11:02 last season, but the early returns suggest he’s making those shifts count. After a brutal first full year in Edmonton, Frederic has opened the 2026-27 campaign with more impact, more edge and, by his own account, a much better feel for the game.
That was on display Saturday night against the Utah Mammoth, where Frederic drew praise from fans for his fight. It also fits the broader picture of his recent stretch, during which he’s been deployed effectively in a bottom-six role alongside Isaac Howard and Josh Samanski. The three spent more than 21 minutes together at 5-on-5 and posted a 69.6% expected goals percentage with a positive goal differential.
For now, recent practice lines suggest Frederic may be settling in as the Oilers’ fourth-line center, at least while the roster shifts continue and injured players return. And that seems to suit him better than last season’s setup ever did.
Frederic said on Monday that his confidence is in a different place now, and he pointed to the team’s structure under the new coach as a big reason why. He said "Babs has us playing well, there's no grey area in our game, everyone knows what what we're supposed to do and I think everyone feels good about their game."
He expanded on that idea, saying "I think like I said, the X's and O's and all that stuff, is super clear. He wants me to get my confidence higher and that's something I'm working on. Just like anything in life, if you're confident you do it better."
Frederic also made a comment that stood out for fans wondering just how difficult last season was. He said "I'm having a lot more fun this year than I was last year, just fun to be at the rink."
That’s a notable line on its own, especially given how rough 2024-25 was for him. Frederic posted the worst statistical season of his career, finishing with seven points - four goals and three assists - in 74 games after arriving from the Boston Bruins in a move finalized by Stan Bowman and the Oilers. Edmonton had acquired him at the 2025 NHL trade deadline, after which he played just one regular-season game with the club and then handled a depth role in the playoffs as the Oilers pushed to a second straight Stanley Cup Finals appearance.
Last season was also coming off the eight-year extension he signed the summer before, a deal worth $3.85 million per season. That made the pressure on Frederic even louder.
Right now, though, the signs are better. The minutes are lighter, the role is clearer and the results have started to follow.
The Oilers have also been noticing the difference in how practice looks under the new bench boss, something that had people talking during the first days of training camp last month.
If Frederic keeps trending this way, Edmonton has another useful piece to lean on as the season unfolds.
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For the Oilers, the appeal is obvious: an accomplished veteran center could deepen a lineup built for the spring and add another layer of experience to the middle of the ice. The challenge is just as clear, though, because any deal of this sort would have to clear a number of hurdles before it ever became real, and for now it remains more of a tempting roster puzzle than a completed path forward. [Read more 🡒]
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The bigger question, though, is the one Edmonton keeps circling back to whenever its captain catches fire. Around the league, Canadian teams have been finding answers in net in unexpected places, with Winnipeg managing without Connor Hellebuyck, Ottawa getting strong early play from Linus Ullmark, and Vancouver getting help from waiver pickup Leevi Merilinen. For the Oilers, that kind of stability in goal remains the conversation they cannot quite escape, even as McDavid keeps forcing attention back onto the other end of the ice. [Read more 🡒]
Maple Leafs Are Suddenly In A Trade Debate Fans Will Understand
As Edmontons forward mix starts to change with injured regulars working their way back, Isaac Howard is one name that suddenly has to be part of the conversation. The 22-year-old left wing prospect gives the Oilers something valuable to weigh because he is young, talented and still early in his pro career, which is exactly the kind of profile other clubs are chasing as they try to get younger without tearing down their rosters.
It is the sort of trade puzzle that can get complicated fast, especially when teams are shopping for youth and Edmonton has to decide how much patience it can afford with its prospects. Howard has not been officially tied to any specific deal, but with the Penguins and Maple Leafs both in the market for younger talent, the speculation around where a player like him could fit is starting to pick up steam. [Read more 🡒]