There is a possible path for Trent Frederic to make the Bruins Opening Night roster.
In the first round of the 2016 Entry Draft, the Boston Bruins had two selections. With their first pick at No. 15, general manager Don Sweeney selected defensemen, Charlie McAvoy, out of Boston University.
Fourteen picks later, Sweeney went outside of the box and drafted forward Trent Frederic 29th overall. Projected to be a second or third-round pick, the Bruins took a chance and selected him higher than projected in a move that they hope will work out.
Frederic is unique as to what he brings to the Bruins. He is a tough enforcer that brings the ability to add scoring production to the bottom-six forwards. This past season with the Providence Bruins in the American Hockey League, he had a career-high 32 points with eight goals and 24 assists. He did rack up 148 penalty minutes in the AHL.
Does recent injury news to Marchand and Pastrnak open up a spot for Frederic?
The Bruins announced last month that their two wings on their first line, Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak, underwent surgeries. Marchand is expected to be out until mid-January after surgery for a sports hernia, while Pastrnak is expected to miss more time, until mid-February following hip surgery.
There is still no concrete date for the beginning of the 2020-21 season, which is expected to be no earlier than Jan. 1. The Bruins are hoping for a later start date to possibly get Marchand back, but regardless, it’s going to extremely tough for them to be able to replace the production from their two top points producers last season.
There are internal and possible external options to move up on the depth chart to help fill the void left by the injuries, but with Marchand and Pastrnak out, it leaves two roster spots open. Frederic will enter training camp with a shot at filling one of those slots.
With the improvement in Frederic’s offensive game over last season and with Joakim Nordstrom leaving the Bruins in free agency to go to the Calgary Flames, there might be more room on the roster for Frederic in the bottom-six. A combined physical presence that is not afraid to drop the gloves and also the ability to add scoring depth in the bottom-six forward grouping is a combination that coach Bruce Cassidy might find it hard to pass on next season.