Edmonton Hockey Daily has no direct affiliation to the Edmonton Oilers, NHL or NHLPA
Oilers coach makes a major admission on Trent Frederic amid terrible season
Photo credit: Imagn Images
The Oilers signing of Trent Frederic has been a total disaster this season, and now the Coach is openly pleading for him to be better.
Frederic has just 2 points in 25 games with the Oilers after signing a massive 8-year contract with an annual salary of $3.875M. He's been such a non-factor early this year, that some are already wondering about the possibility of a buyout.
Oilers coach makes plea to Trent Frederic to improve his play this season<.h3>
Frederic is entering tonight's game against the Wild on the 4th line, and has played less than 10 minutes of ice time in his last 2 games.
Coach Knoblauch actually took some of the blame for Frederic's failure this year, but also recognized that the player needs to find a way to make an impact in any way.
It's a tough one. For a player to play his best, he has to feel like he can contribute. Whether it's joining a new team, or just finding a role, or whatever it is, we haven't been able to do that.
Trent's obviously disappointed with his season so far. We do expect more from Trent. He hasn't played to his potential. It's on the coaching staff, and Trent himself, to get that out and find out how he can help us win hockey games.
Just with the circumstances of him signing his contract - players put more expectations on themselves. It's a weight on your shoulders that paralyzes you. He wants to do so much more, but it kind of gets away from what his identity is and playing to his strengths.
- Coach Knoblauch
Trent's obviously disappointed with his season so far. We do expect more from Trent. He hasn't played to his potential. It's on the coaching staff, and Trent himself, to get that out and find out how he can help us win hockey games.
Just with the circumstances of him signing his contract - players put more expectations on themselves. It's a weight on your shoulders that paralyzes you. He wants to do so much more, but it kind of gets away from what his identity is and playing to his strengths.
- Coach Knoblauch
Knoblauch finished with saying that he believes Frederic will come around to help them win games, but there's a few major admissions in those comments.
First off, Frederic isn't helping the Oilers win games at the moment. He's found himself falling in the lineup to barely playing any ice time at all. Mattias Janmark has more of a role as a defensive specialist than Frederic, who isn't bringing much at all.
Second, that Frederic's contract is a weight on him that's dragging his game down. Under the pressure of this new contract Frederic is paralyzed trying to live up to it.
Things do need to change with Frederic, and there's still time. Connor Brown went nearly an entire year without scoring, and then became a key contributor on 2 cup runs.
Frederic needs to watch that Brown goal against the Capitals, and realize he can turn everything around just the same. If he shows no signs of life after this season or perhaps another, then the buyout will be a consideration.
TRENDING NOW
