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Trent Frederic, Boston Bruins (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

Grading Oilers & Bruins’ Trent Frederic Trade

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers
By Jacob Billington | Last updated Mar 4, 2025 3:05 PM ET

With just a few days until the 2025 Trade Deadline, action is picking up in the trade market, and the Edmonton Oilers and Boston Bruins are the latest teams involved. The Oilers acquired forwards Trent Frederic and Max Jones in exchange for a 2025 second-round pick, a 2026 fourth-round pick, and prospects Max Wanner and Shane LaChance. The New Jersey Devils acted as the broker for the deal, receiving LaChance for retaining 25 percent of Frederic’s total cap hit.

The Bruins have not given up on their run for the playoffs, but as they currently sit, they are just two points outside the playoffs, but have three teams to pass. The Oilers are without a doubt looking to take another run at the Stanley Cup this season after falling just shy last season, while the Devils are picking up an asset for retaining $575,000.

Oilers Add Frederic for Playoff Run

Adding Frederic to the lineup isn’t going to help the Oilers much in the regular season. There are still some doubts that he will play before the playoffs after suffering a lower-body injury and being listed as week-to-week. Frederic adds a lot of what Edmonton should be looking for, which includes his physicality and willingness to battle hard.

Jones is another depth asset, but isn’t likely to be a big part of the playoff run the Oilers are hoping to go on.

Giving up a second- and fourth-round pick is a good chunk of change for a player on an expiring deal who may not be around until the playoffs. The Oilers are certainly a better team with him in the lineup than without, but the uncertainty is where the risk is. For a team like the Oilers, taking that risk is worth it.

Wanner and LaChance were picked in the last two rounds of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft by the Oilers, and while there is still some growing to do, it doesn’t look like either will be an NHL regular, at least any time soon.

Considering the cap juggling it takes for a team like the Oilers to make acquisitions at the deadline, they pulled off a pretty good deal here, assuming Frederic recovers from his injury in a timely manner. Frederic isn’t having as good of a season offensively as he did last year, with just 18 points in 53 games.

Oilers Trade Grade: B+

Bruins Finally Start Selling

It has been 14 years since the Bruins picked in the top 10 of the draft, and for most of that time, their prospect pool and amount of picks have been lacking. Of course, they made some great picks in that time, but especially for the past decade, things have been worn thin. That doesn’t matter when you are winning, though. With the Bruins’ success they have had over the last 20 years, I am not sure they would take any of it back. Over this season, though, it has become clear that they might need to switch lanes and start selling off some assets.

Frederic, an upcoming free agent, fits the mould of what the Bruins have been for quite some time, but considering he is out for most of the rest of the regular season, wasn’t going to help the Bruins get there. Of course, the picks aren’t either, but it was a very smart decision to move on from him and bring in a pretty impressive haul.

Considering the injuries to Charlie McAvoy, Brad Marchand, and others, it makes sense for the Bruins to admit defeat on this season and try and recoup some assets for what they have.

Bruins Trade Grade: A

Devils Get LaChance for Retaining Under $600k

There isn’t much to be said about the Devils side of this deal. LaChance is a former sixth-round pick putting together a decent season as a 21-year-old in the NCAA, and while his ceiling might not be very high, taking him for just $575,000 in retention for the rest of this season is a perfect kind of deal. They did give up prospect Petr Hauser, but he hasn’t amounted to much in the Czech league, and is struggling this season as a 21-year-old. LaChance is an upgrade on him.

Considering the Devils have over $4 million in cap space, it isn’t as if they in dire need of the space. Of course, it all adds up, but that is a fairly inconsequential amount of money on the books.

Devils Trade Grade: A+