Boston Bruins
Bruins Trent Frederic Drawing Interest On NHL Trade Market
Boston Bruins rookie forward Trent Frederic isn’t just impressing his teammates, coaches, and Bruins management these days, he’s also catching the eyes of plenty of pro scouts as we’re just over a month until the April 8 NHL Trade Deadline.
“That kid’s grown up a lot faster than expected in my opinion,” an NHL scout told Boston Hockey Now Monday night. “I can tell you this, if the Bruins try to go big with a trade before the deadline, a lot more of those teams are going to ask for him in the deal.”
With NHL trade chatter running rampant with Jack Eichel trade rumors again, Fluto Shinzawa reported Monday that if the Bruins were about to go after the suddenly biggest name on the NHL rumor circuit, the asking price would start with Frederic and Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy. It’s well known amongst NHL pro scouts though that McAvoy is off-limits.
“That just doesn’t make sense for the Bruins because they build from the goalie out and up the middle like most contenders do,” the same scout said. “Frederic though? I mean, in a package for Eichel that doesn’t include McAvoy or the obvious guys like ‘Pasta’ [David Pastrnak] and the rest of that line, I’m doing that. I’m telling my boss, you need to do this.”
The fact that Frederic is now being mentioned in NHL trade rumors surrounding the Buffalo Sabres superstar though shows the faster than expected accent the 6-foot-2, 203-pound forward has made through 19 games this season. After scoring his second goal of the season in a 4-1 win over the New York Rangers on Sunday, Frederic has three points but has established himself more in front of the net and even more so one the forecheck. Frederic isn’t afraid to let his opponents know he’s there after the whistle blows either.
“Yeah, he’s starting to annoy people. He’s a big body that can back it up,” Boston Bruins Head Coach Bruce Cassidy said after the win Sunday. “We’re seeing growth in his game. He’s getting some points … he’s around the puck a lot more and he’s shooting more.”
Frederic endeared himself to the Bruins faithful by dropping the gloves with then Winnipeg Jets forward Brandon Tanev in his first NHL game back on Jan. 29, 2019, and this season he’s dropped them twice. Frederic took on arguably the toughest player and best power forward in the NHL in Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson back on Feb. 1.
Then on Feb. 12 with Rangers pest Brendan Lemieux. …yes, Bruins fans of the 1980’s and 90’s, the son of longtime nemesis Claude Lemieux.
“Seriously, this kid’s got big brass ones and he can play,” the aforementioned scout told BHN. “Who doesn’t want maybe the next Tom Wilson?”
That’s why Frederic has suddenly become a valuable NHL trade chip for the Boston Bruins but the read here is that the Bruins value him more too now and it would take an impactful trade for them to move him.