Boston Bruins: Trent Frederic adds a unique element to the system
Trent Frederic looks like a throwback player in the Boston Bruins system.
The Providence Bruins got back to their winning ways with two victories this weekend. Providence laid the proverbial beatdown on Springfield, but for forward Trent Frederic, this beatdown was quite literal.
In Saturday night’s win, Frederic dropped the gloves with Rodrigo Abols. It’s safe to say that Frederic got the better of this one.
Trent Frederic drops the gloves with Rodrigo Abols and just hands him a beat down. Frederic caught Abols with a clean uppercut and dropped him, tried to pull him back up for more and then the refs stepped in. Frederic is dummying players every weekend in Providence. #NHLBruins pic.twitter.com/kEE7O0LsYM
— Bruins Network (@BruinsNetwork) January 12, 2020
Frederic continues to lead the AHL in fighting majors and penalty minutes. In fact, he has more than 20 penalty minutes than any other player. Even at his young age, he already is one of the AHL’s most menacing figures.
Right now, Frederic is on pace for over 200 penalty minutes. That wasn’t a big number a few years ago, but it’s unheard of in the modern-day game.
Boston first-rounder Trent Frederic leading the #AHL with 102 PIM is not a development that I saw coming.
— PATRICK WILLIAMS (@pwilliamsAHL) January 13, 2020
He is on pace for 209 PIM this season, which would make him the first player in the league to hit 200-plus PIM since Stu Bickel (210) in 2015-16.
With his physical play and fisticuffs, Frederic looks very much like a throwback player. Night after night he brings a certain element that we don’t see anymore. That certainly helps him stand out in the Bruins organization.
Even with the physical play, Frederic can still produce offensively
While the big hits and fights stand out, the Bruins didn’t draft Frederic to be an enforcer. Given his first-round pedigree, Boston expects and needs him to be much more.
Fortunately, Frederic does bring a lot more to the table. This season, he has 20 points in 37 games for Providence; not extraordinary, but still impressive for someone in only his second full pro season.
Plus, you must consider that Frederic had 25 points total last season. He clearly shows progress offensively from last year to this year, something that’s a welcoming sign for any young forward.
Take Frederic’s respectable offensive statistics and combine them with his size and physical nature, and you can see why he looks to be a difference-maker for Boston in the near future.
Take his game last Saturday as an example of Frederic at his best. Not only did he win a fight; Frederic also picked up a goal and an assist for a Gordie Howe hat trick. He was one of the most dominant players on the ice, and as such his team won.
The Bruins have a number of quality forwards in the system, but Frederic brings something the others don’t. He has the strength, size, and aggressiveness to be an important player for Boston in the near future. Don’t be surprised to see Frederic turn into a fan favorite.