In any playoff series, the stars will be the stars, and the goaltending duels will be integral to wins and losses.
However, most series also have an unsung hero or X-factor that needs to step up for a team to win. In Edmonton, that could be Trent Frederic.
Frederic, who joined the Edmonton Oilers this season at the trade deadline, is no stranger to rough stuff. Against the Florida Panthers – a gritty and rough team that has the edge physically on paper in this series – that might be a critical element Frederic must embrace.
During Frederic’s time with the Boston Bruins, he attempted to reignite tensions during the NHL season opener by trying to fight Matthew Tkachuk. That moment wasn’t just about early-season fireworks – it was a clear callback to last year’s heated playoff series between the Bruins and Panthers. In that second-round matchup, Florida center Sam Bennettknocked Brad Marchand out of the series, fuelling animosity that hadn’t faded.
Ironically, Marchand now finds himself as a teammate to Bennett and Tkachuk. But for Frederic, this is a chance to prove he’s willing to light those fireworks again.
The rugged forward has already made his presence felt this post-season, especially during the Oilers’ hard-fought series against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Frederic dropped the gloves and went slightly viral when he snapped his stick over his own head like it was a twig. He wasn’t an offensive force, but his willingness to stand tall in the face of an aggressive forecheck helped push the Oilers past Vegas.
Against Florida, he might be ready to raise his impact even higher.
One incident that highlighted Frederic’s ability to get under opponents’ skin came when Vegas forward Nicolas Roy was ejected after cross-checking Frederic in the face, earning a five-minute major and a game misconduct in overtime.
That sequence showed how Frederic’s physical play and agitator style can force opponents into costly mistakes – a skill that could become even more valuable in a tightly contested Cup final.
While he hasn’t yet delivered his best offensive performance, with one goal and four points in 16 games, this series against the Panthers might be his opportunity to step up and become an unlikely difference-maker.
Edmonton needs nastiness and physicality to combat Marchand, Tkachuk and Bennett.
As for facing his former teammate, Marchand, Frederic said it was a bit weird and didn’t really know how to feel about it.
“If you asked me 10 months ago, I would have jumped on a grenade for the guy, and now, it’s the complete opposite,” he told NHL Network’s E.J. Hradek on Tuesday. “It’s very weird, but that’s the hockey world.”
Frederic will need to put past friendships aside, forget about former teammates and play a key role, one he was brought in to play.
The Oilers need him to hit and forecheck. Better yet, they need him to try to intimidate players who aren’t easily intimidated. If he can do that, he becomes an X-factor Florida will have to contend with.
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