Trent Frederic Bio
Trent Frederic is an American professional ice hockey forward who currently plays for the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League. Born on February 11, 1998, in St. Louis, Missouri, he was selected 29th overall by the Boston Bruins in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. Frederic spent the first chapter of his professional career with the Bruins before being traded to the Oilers in 2025, where he quickly became a key contributor in both the regular season and the playoffs.
Known for his physical presence, willingness to drop the gloves, and improving two-way game, Frederic has developed from a depth forward into a trusted middle-six option. Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing around 220 pounds, he brings size, responsibility, and a steady edge to a contending Oilers lineup.
Early Life and Background
Trent Frederic was born on February 11, 1998, in St. Louis, Missouri, to Bob and Gaye Frederic, both lifelong fans of the St. Louis Blues. Raised in a hockey household, his childhood idols were former Blues players Keith Tkachuk and David Backes, and he modeled much of his playing style after Backes. The Tkachuk family, including brothers Brady and Matthew, would frequently join Trent and his friends for roller hockey in the Frederic family basement, often with future NHL players such as Logan Brown, Clayton Keller, and Luke Kunin.
Frederic was a three-sport athlete growing up, and each of his youth coaches was a former professional. He was coached in hockey by Tkachuk and Jeff Brown, in football by quarterback Gus Frerotte, and in Little League Baseball by Mike Matheny. He attended De Smet Jesuit High School, where he played multiple sports for two years before October 2013, when the USA Hockey National Team Development Program recruited him after spotting him at a minor ice hockey tournament.
Path to Hockey
After being recruited by USA Hockey, Frederic spent two years in the National Team Development Program, competing in the United States Hockey League and several international tournaments. He produced seven goals and 12 assists for 19 points across 58 USHL games, while also representing the United States at events like the 2014 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge and the 2016 IIHF World U18 Championships, where he helped the Americans to a bronze medal.
On April 18, 2014, Frederic committed to play college ice hockey for the Wisconsin Badgers, choosing that route despite earlier recruitment from Boston University. He joined Wisconsin for the 2016-17 season and was named the Big Ten Men’s Ice Hockey Freshman of the Year and the Badgers’ most valuable player after posting 15 goals and 33 points in 30 games. He returned to Wisconsin as an alternate captain for 2017-18, finishing with 17 goals and 32 points before signing an entry-level contract with the Bruins.
Trent Frederic Career
Early Career (2018-2020)
Frederic closed out 2017-18 with the Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League on an amateur tryout, posting five goals and eight points in 13 regular season games. He made his NHL debut on January 29, 2019, skating on a line with his childhood idol David Backes and immediately dropping the gloves with Winnipeg’s Brandon Tanev. Although he played 15 scoreless NHL games that season, he produced 14 goals and 25 points in Providence.
He split 2019-20 between Boston and Providence, appearing in only two NHL games but leading the AHL with 148 penalty minutes while adding 32 points. Frederic was selected to Boston’s 31-man bubble roster for the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs but contracted COVID-19 during training camp and was unable to participate in the postseason.
Boston Bruins Breakthrough (2020-2023)
Frederic became a regular for the Bruins in 2020-21, recording his first NHL point on January 23 and his first NHL goal on February 21 against Philadelphia at the NHL Outdoors at Lake Tahoe game. A serious non-COVID illness in April limited him to six more appearances, and he was a healthy scratch through Boston’s 2021 playoff exit to the New York Islanders. That summer, he signed a two-year, $2.1 million extension and was protected in the 2021 NHL expansion draft.
In 2021-22, Frederic played 60 games with eight goals and 18 points while dealing with a concussion, COVID protocols, and an upper-body injury. His 2022-23 campaign marked a true breakthrough under new head coach Jim Montgomery, who urged him to simplify his game. Moved to right wing alongside Charlie Coyle and Taylor Hall, Frederic set career highs with 17 goals and 31 points in 79 games. He signed a two-year, $4.6 million extension on August 1, 2023, and followed it up with 18 goals and 40 points in 2023-24, earning the NESN 7th Player Award.
Edmonton Oilers Era (2025-Present)
On March 4, 2025, Frederic was traded to the Edmonton Oilers as part of a three-team deal that also sent Max Jones and prospect Petr Hauser to Edmonton. He made his Oilers debut on April 5, 2025, against the Los Angeles Kings and quickly found the scoresheet in the playoffs, scoring the series-winning goal in Game 6 of Edmonton’s first-round matchup with the Kings on May 1, 2025. The goal capped a 6-4 victory that sent the Oilers to the second round.
On June 27, 2025, Frederic signed an eight-year, $30.8 million contract extension with the Oilers, signaling a long-term commitment from both sides. His blend of size, physicality, and improved offensive touch has slotted him into a meaningful role on a Stanley Cup contender.
Driving Style and Strengths
Frederic combines a heavy, 6-foot-3 frame with surprisingly good skating and an evolving offensive skill set. He is comfortable playing center or wing, excels in a bottom-six energy role, and has grown into a reliable two-way contributor who can play up the lineup. His willingness to engage physically and his improved discipline have made him a coach-friendly piece in Edmonton’s system.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Frederic’s signature moments are his first NHL fight on debut with childhood idol David Backes as a linemate, his first NHL goal at the Lake Tahoe outdoor game, and his Game 6 series-clinching goal for the Oilers against the Kings in 2025. He also earned the NESN 7th Player Award in 2023-24 after setting new career highs in goals and points.
Trent Frederic Career Wins
Trent Frederic has built his reputation less on goal-scoring totals and more on the playoff and milestone wins that come with a long professional career. From his early work helping Providence reach deep AHL runs to back-to-back Bruins playoff appearances and a series-winning goal for the Oilers, Frederic’s ledger of meaningful victories continues to grow.
NHL Highlights
Frederic’s most memorable NHL win to date is the Game 6 clincher against the Los Angeles Kings in the 2025 playoffs, a 6-4 Edmonton victory sealed by his third-period goal. He has also been part of multiple Bruins postseason runs, including the 2020 bubble qualification round and the 2021 and 2022 playoff series against the New York Islanders and Carolina Hurricanes, even if his personal production in those springs was limited.
Other Wins and Performances
At the junior and international levels, Frederic helped the United States to a silver medal at the 2014 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge and bronze medals at both the 2016 IIHF World U18 Championships and the 2018 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, where he scored four goals in the bronze-medal win over the Czech Republic. In college, he was a driving force behind Wisconsin’s strong 2016-17 campaign, winning the Big Ten Freshman of the Year award.
Trent Frederic Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Trent Frederic is the son of Bob and Gaye Frederic, both longtime St. Louis Blues supporters who fostered his love for the game. He grew up in a tight-knit sports family, with a basement roller-hockey rink that regularly hosted the Tkachuk brothers and several future NHL players.
Personal Life
Trent’s older brother, Grant Frederic, is also a hockey player. The two brothers faced each other during Trent’s time with the US national team program and Grant’s stint with the Green Bay Gamblers, and Grant went on to play four years at Miami University before signing with the Adirondack Thunder of the ECHL in 2020.
2025 Season Performance
Trent Frederic’s 2025 campaign has been defined by a midseason change of scenery. After serving as a steady physical and bottom-six presence for the Boston Bruins, he was dealt to the Edmonton Oilers on March 4 as part of a three-team trade, joining a team firmly in the middle of a Stanley Cup push. His playoff debut with the Oilers was dramatic, as he scored the Game 6 winner against the Los Angeles Kings to send Edmonton to the second round.
His regular-season transition was quick, with Frederic contributing energy, penalty killing, and a hard forecheck while adjusting to a new system under Edmonton’s coaching staff. The eight-year, $30.8 million extension he signed on June 27, 2025, reflects the organization’s belief that his blend of size, two-way play, and playoff composure will remain a key ingredient for years to come.
Looking ahead, Frederic is expected to slot into a depth scoring and physicality role for the Oilers, with the potential to move up the lineup when matchups allow. His ongoing chemistry with Edmonton’s star players and his comfort in high-pressure playoff environments position him as a steady contributor for the franchise through the length of his new contract.
