The Edmonton Oilers made a significant deal, bringing in rugged forward Trent Frederic from the Boston Bruins for picks and prospect Shane LaChance.
Here is Cult of Hockey writer Bruce McCurdy’s full report.
And here’s how the hockey world reacted to the deal:
The Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli @frank_seravalli
Trade details:
To Oilers:
C Trent Frederic
F Max Jones
To Bruins:
2025 STL 2nd Rd Pick
2026 EDM 4th Rd Pick
D Max Wanner
To Devils:
Rights to Shane LaChance
(From EDM for retaining 50% on Frederic)
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Hockey News commentator Ryan Kennedy @THNRyanKennedy
Don’t think about this trade too hard, folks: Edmonton got a playoff-style center in Trent Frederic (when healthy), lost nothing off their roster and didn’t give up any top prospects (Wanner was 9th on the team in Future Watch; LaChance was 10th)
Sporstnet’s Mark Spector🇨🇦🇺🇦 @SportsnetSpec
Trent Frederic, other than the extent of his ankle/foot injury, is a known quality.
But Max Jones?
In the past hour 1 scout has assured me he’s a “sneaky get” and a for sure NHL player, while another assures: “Not at the NHL level.”
Toronto hockey writer Ken Campbell @Ken_Campbell27
If Frederic can recover from his lower-body injury and help the Oilers reach the pinnacle, the slight overpay for his services will be worthwhile.
Oilers Nation writer zach @zjlaing
Frederic’s a pretty solid Evander Kane replacement if they can find a way to move him.
Boston Globe hockey writer Conor Ryan @ConorRyan_93
Trent Frederic’s blend of snarl and scoring punch made him a popular figure in Boston. But Boston getting a 2nd-rounder for a pending UFA (who they might have been hesitant to give a pay raise to), who is both injured & in a down year is a sign that this is a seller’s market.
Cam Robinson
Hockey commentator Mike Bartner @MikeBartner
Stan Bowman turned Philip Broberg into rental Trent Frederic.
Hockey writer Cam Robinson @Hockey_Robinson
The Trent Frederic trade only further illustrates how much of a seller’s market this is. Bubble teams need to take a serious look in the mirror and decide if this is *really* the season to go for it or soft sell and take advantage of the lack of options out there
NHL great Chris Pronger @chrispronger
Oilers with a solid pick up once Trent Frederic gets healthy. Will play a huge part in any playoff run. His physical style is built for the playoffs. Max Jones adds more depth with a small price tag and someone with NHL games under his belt.
Former NHLer Jordan Schmaltz @J_Swish24
Great piece of business by Stanny Bowman bringing in Trent Frederic to Oilers. Freddy is that sandpaper big boy western conference hockey mold you need in the later rounds of playoff puck. I’d like to see Edmonton address their right side on D. I like Bouchard and Stecher but the Oil need something in between that and I’m not sure Klingberg is that answer at this time..
Fourth Period analyst David Pagnotta @TheFourthPeriod
Nice piece of business for Edmonton, who get Frederic at a cap hit of $575,000 after 75% was eaten up by Boston (50%) and New Jersey (25% off total). Frederic’s health is still unclear, but the Oilers have room to keep him on the club without having to trade someone else.
The Short Shift Podcast @shortshiftpod out of Boston
Good value coming back to Boston on the Trent Frederic deal. I know some of you don’t need to hear this right now but I say this every offseason and deadline — you can’t fall in love with your players unless they are Patrice Bergeron.
Oilers hockey blogger Connor Hill @Habsfan2004
My overall worry is that Frederic is gonna push Savoie out of the lineup. If he’s pushing Janmark out, I’d love this personally, but I know the Oilers lmao
Bruins podcaster Michael Sullivan @_MikeSullivan
People seem to forget that Trent Frederic was gone after this year anyways. Instead of missing playoffs, keeping spots from younger guys and losing him for nothing…you get two picks and a prospect for a guy who was hitting FA after this year. Freddy was fun but…
TSN’s Chris Johnston @reporterchris
An interesting wrinkle to the #oilers acquisition of Trent Frederic: At this point, there’s no indication if he’ll be healthy enough to play before the playoffs. So there’s a chance he can remain on LTIR for the balance of the season.
Hockey cap expert PuckPedia @PuckPedia (in response to Johnston)
If Frederic is going to be out for the year the retention was potentially not needed because acquiring him & then putting him on LTIR is a net 0 cap impact. This suggests there’s at least a chance he’s back. Or, they also plan to trade Kane & not be an LTIR team.
Oilers Nation writer Sid 🇨🇦 @NHL_Sid
I like Trent Frederic. Solid two-way bottom-six forward that can forecheck, kill penalties, and even produce at a decent rate… I’m extremely confident Frederic will be more useful to this Oilers this season than Kane could be…. Overall, I think the price is somewhat steep, especially if Frederic doesn’t re-sign, and I really hope Wanner isn’t Kesselring 2.0. But I’m higher on Frederic than most and I believe there’s a useful player here. It can’t be their only move though.
St. Louis hockey commentator Andy Strickland @andystrickland
Great pickup for Edmonton…could use some size up front. Trent Frederic will return in plenty of time to get up to speed for playoffs.
Oilers fan Tyson Munro @Tys35
I like Frederic as a bottom 6 guy but my god, that price tag is insane at face value
880 sports commentator Brenden Escott @BrendenEscott
Oh wow I love this deal! Frederic was at the top of my wish list for the Oilers this year. Nasty piece of business that changes the look in the bottom half of the lineup. 27-years-old and a pending UFA.
Oilers fan Karman Gill @Kgill39
Is Frederic a Kane replacement or more support for Kane?
Oilers fan Paul Almeida @AzorcanGlobal
Trent Frederic to Edmonton. I was hoping for Brazeau as well. Frederic will add some sandpaper to the #Oilers
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Hockey insider John Shannon @JShannonhl
Trent Frederic is probably 2-3 weeks from playing for Edmonton. Today was the first day he was seen without a walking boot. He is supposed to start skating shortly. The Oilers certainly won’t rush the process.
Oilers Now host Bob Stauffer @Bob_Stauffer
The Edmonton Oilers add a top-9 FWD in Frederic who can play both C and Wing.
Has bite. Scored 17 and 18 goals last 2 seasons Jones can play as a 4th line winger Boston retained 50% and NJ 25% on Frederic. Lachance’s father works for the Devils
Edmonton hockey writer Preston Hodgkinson @NHLHodgkinson
It also doesn’t help out EDM’s biggest needs in finishing/goaltending Frederic is a better scorer than Podkolzin but a top-six guy? I have my doubts… he’s better suited for a b6 role… Don’t hate Frederic deal… thought his health makes or breaks this imo… it’d be a lot to give up for a guy who can’t play before the playoffs. If he makes his Oilers debut in the playoffs… that is pretty risky
TSN’s Ryan Rishaug @TSNRyanRishaug
Frederic at this dollar figure once healthy is a strong add to the group, plays a style they lack with size that will help at playoff time. Payed a price to get the dollar figure down, but he’s the type of player you’d consider re-signing if the fit is good.
Oilers fan Dyl @dhockey13
Oilers fans crying about the fact we gave up LaChance as if he was ever going to play here. Matt Savoie is being scratched for Mattias Janmark dude and Savoie is so clear of LaChance lmao.
Oilers fan sløppƴ @TakenKhariaYa
Corey Perry and Trent Frederic and possibly Evander Kane are going to be a problem for opposing teams come playoffs
Oilers fan Roshan Nelson @roshannelson13
So much for the right shot centre. Huge overpay losing STL 2nd, Edm’s best and only young D in Bakersfield and the only young winger with size and pedigree in the organization.
Oilers fan Michael Sommerfeld @MikeySomms
Now go get Binnington.·
Edmonton Journal hockey writer Jim Matheson @jimmathesonnhl
You guys can’t have it both ways. You want to win as fans but when you give up prospects you scream. Oilers are dead last in NHL hits. They need a pain in the butt F which Frederic is. Now to make this deal work, they also have to resign the UFA LW/C or it is short-term gain.”
Oilers fan Davis Smith @DavisSm29196615
Wow. Oilers management is inept. This does nothing to help us. Trade away Wanner & LaChance. We have nothing on the farm. I will laugh if McDavid does not resign. Holloway, Foegele, McLeod, Broberg – can’t believe they are gone.
Oilers fan Stu The Penguin @StuThePenguin
Frederic is a pain in the ass to play against and has some skill. He’s a good player. Will fit in nicely.
Cult of Hockey contributor Ira Cooper @coopsie39
Lachance is a find prospect but far from a top prospect. He’s not a sure-fire NHL player. I presume the Oilers were unlikely to get him signed…When Berezkin signs in June, noone will remember LaChance!
US sports commentator John Buccigross @Buccigross
Edmonton traded Shane Lachance, Max Wanner, a 2nd and a 4th for pending UFA Trent Frederic? Dylan Holloway has 20 goals, is from Alberta, is not an RFA until 2029, and they could have had him cheap for multiple years… AND trade for Frederic.·
At the Cult of Hockey
McCURDY: Digging into the Frederic deal
STAPLES: “Oilers are in tough” to make big deadline deal, insider opines
STAPLES: Disagreement between Kane, Oilers on when he’ll be ready to play