Bruins NHL insider: ‘Several teams are interested’ in Trent Frederic Trent Frederic is set to hit unrestricted free agency in July 2025. Trent Frederic is set to become a free agent next offseason. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
The NHL trade deadline is not until March 7, 2025, but that hasn’t stopped one Bruins lineup regular from already getting tossed out in rumors less than a month into the 2024-25 campaign.
Bruins forward Trent Frederic is already being viewed as a coveted asset — be it as a trade chip or in the summer when he hits unrestricted free agency, according to Kevin Weekes, the former NHL goalie and current ESPN insider.
In speaking to sources, several teams are interested in pending UFA (after this season) @NHLBruins Frederic,” Weekes posted Tuesday on X. “With his size, speed, toughness, character and skill – he’s drawing attention in the marketplace.”
In speaking to sources, several teams are interested in pending UFA (after this season) @NHLBruins Frederic. With his size, speed, toughness, character and skill – he’s drawing attention in the marketplace.#NHLBruins pic.twitter.com/zzM7yqLyW2 — Kevin Weekes (@KevinWeekes) November 5, 2024
Frederic has had a slow start to the 2024-25 season, scoring just one goal and adding two assists over 13 games this season. But the 26-year-old forward’s blend of size and snarl could make him a coveted asset for teams looking to toughen up their lineup ahead of the postseason.
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The 2016 first-round pick is coming off of a career year in 2023-24 where he lit the lamp 18 times and finished with 40 points over 82 games — averaging 13:45 of ice time as a middle-six stalwart. He also doled out a team-high 204 hits.
While Frederic’s willingness to drop the gloves has long been a calling card for his game, he has developed a reputation over the last few seasons as a strong defensive presence.
Quite the scrap here between Frederic and Englund: pic.twitter.com/qKETDHBCXN — Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) October 22, 2023
Over the previous three seasons, the Bruins outscored opponents, 119-75, during Frederic’s 2,562 minutes of 5-on-5 ice time — even though just 42.5 percent of Frederic’s faceoffs were set in the offensive zone.
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Even with Boston’s sluggish 6-6-1 start to the new season, it remains unlikely that the Bruins would shift their status and become sellers before the trade deadline.
Barring the need for Don Sweeney to completely shake up the roster by trading a middle-six fixture like Frederic, the Bruins are likely more inclined to keep a homegrown forward like Frederic for the long haul.
But even with Frederic’s slow start this fall, the Bruins could find themselves stuck in a bidding war in July if Frederic does hit the open market.
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