Oilers analyst points out new theory why Trent Frederic has disappeared this season

When you're in the news for not standing-up for your team's captain, not producing, being a healthy scratch, and having a long-term contract with a no-movement clause the team would drop in heartbeat, one can only hope for the best.

This is where the Oilers stand with Trent Frederic, who is just in year one of an eight year deal at a $3.85M cap hit.

In fact, the Oilers have tried just about everything to get Frederic going.

Over 55 games, he's recorded 2G and 1A, has taken 51 shots on goal with a 3.9% shooting %, so offense isn't his thing. What is?

Trent can best help the Edmonton Oilers by serving as a physical, bottom-six enforcer who provides sandpaper and a net-front presence, which the team has lacked since the departure of Evander Kane.

The good news is that according to one source, Frederic's speed is back to normal and is hitting at an all-time, career-best rate. If he's going to be a physical presence, he will need to do those things well, which when he's healthy he does.

On the ice, the priority for management and coaches is to transition him from a struggling offensive contributor to a reliable, physical bottom-six anchor who can kill penalties and create space for the team's stars.

For his confidence, coach Knoblauch must find a way to empower Frederic, so he feels like he's contributing; a well-defined, quantifiable role that best utilizes his strengths.

With the Olympic break the Oilers have the opportunity to re-set and make a statement to the rest of the league, as they have the last two years.

This year, they've done so in segments, but never over long stretches of games. That, in my opinion, should be the team's goal moving forward: Consistency.

You'd be surprised how much confidence winning breeds, and if there's one thing Trent Frederic needs right now, it's confidence.

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