Kris Knoblauch explains what Trent Frederic needs before returning to the lineup
Photo credit: Edit from Oilers Nation
Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch revealed that Trent Frederic will eventually return to game action, but until then, he needs a break to find his game.
With the Edmonton Oilers returning from Minnesota late Saturday night, the team held an optional morning skate Sunday ahead of its matchup against the Vegas Golden Knights.
The skate offered no clarity on lineup decisions, but clarity arrived later when head coach Kris Knoblauch addressed the media roughly 90 minutes before puck drop.
Knoblauch confirmed that Trent Frederic would be a healthy scratch, a significant decision just 36 games into Frederic's eight-year contract, carrying a $3.85 million cap hit.
What Trent Frederic has done this year to merit being a healthy scratch
Frederic has recorded two goals and three points this season, and Knoblauch acknowledged the scratch was a drastic step following ongoing struggles.
Frederic's time in Edmonton has been uneven since arriving from the Boston Bruins at last season's trade deadline. His Oilers regular-season debut lasted only seven minutes before he suffered a high-ankle injury against the Los Angeles Kings.
That injury sidelined him until the playoffs, where he appeared in all 22 postseason games but was clearly limited.
Now, three months into the current season and nearly 10 months removed from the injury, Knoblauch suggested lingering effects may still be impacting Frederic.
Knoblauch revealed that Frederic will eventually slot back into the lineup, but until then, he needs a break to find his game.
"I believe Trent is going to come back into the lineup and be a big part of our team moving forward, whether that's next game, a week down the road or whenever it is," he said. "But I think it's really important Trent has a reset just to step away.
"You see it a lot of times in the playoffs where a lot of guys underperform during the regular season, but the first game of the playoffs, it's a new season, then they're fantastic I think with Trent - I'm not sure he comes in next game - but eventually, he'll be back in the lineup, and he just needs a bit of a break, find his game, and come back, because I think he has a lot to offer this team."
- Kris Knoblauch
"You see it a lot of times in the playoffs where a lot of guys underperform during the regular season, but the first game of the playoffs, it's a new season, then they're fantastic I think with Trent - I'm not sure he comes in next game - but eventually, he'll be back in the lineup, and he just needs a bit of a break, find his game, and come back, because I think he has a lot to offer this team."
- Kris Knoblauch
Why not all aspects of Trent Frederic's game have declined
While Frederic has increased his physical play, nearly every other area of his game has declined. His offensive production has stalled, his shot volume is down, and both his goal share and expected goal metrics have dipped noticeably.
According to HockeyViz, Frederic has shifted from a reliable top-nine forward in recent seasons to a player fluctuating between the third and fourth lines.
That reality contrasts sharply with preseason expectations, when he opened the year on Edmonton's top line. If the injury remains an issue, stepping away may be the necessary reset.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 22 | 69 ANSWERS Kris Knoblauch explains what Trent Frederic needs before returning to the lineup Does Trent Frederic need this break to reset? | ||
| Yes | 57 | 82.6 % |
| No | 12 | 17.4 % |
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