Oilers trade deadline acquisition may be healthy scratch for round 3 of playoffs
Photo credit: Edmonton Oilers Raw
The Edmonton Oilers will be getting a huge boost to their lineup with the return of Mattias Ekholm, but it will force the team to make a tough lineup decision.
The trade deadline move for Trent Frederic hasn't lived up to expectation so far, especially after his injury kept him out until playoffs. Now, he may be the odd man out.
Oilers Trent Frederic may be next to be healthy scratched upon return of Mattias Ekholm
With news that Mattias Ekholm will return sometime after Game 2 in the Conference Final, a formation of 11 forwards and 7 defence may make the most sense. In that case, the 12th forward currently is Trent Frederic.
Trent Frederic saw his ice time decline over the course of the Vegas series, especially while other players had their time increased. Frederic only played 7:42 in Game 4, and 9:28 in Game 5.
His ice time totals in Game 5 were the lowest on the team, even far below Kasperi Kapanen and Vasily Podkolzin who played key minutes elevated in the lineup. Others like Brown and Janmark are key penalty killers.
On defence too, it's impossible to find a reason to take a player out of the lineup. The two depth options, John Klingberg and Troy Stecher, have put up standout performances. Klingberg played over 20 minutes in Game 5, and Stecher over 15.
Oilers depth is forcing them into tough lineup decisions
It's incredible to think the Oilers could end up scratching both Trent Frederic and Viktor Arvidsson in the playoffs, while still being so comfortable with their forward depth.
The Oilers perhaps paid too much to acquire an injured Frederic at the deadline, and he still could be playing through injury that's limiting his effectiveness, but he hasn't been awful.
Edmonton should still be trying to re-sign Frederic, and get a better version of him next season.
| POLL | ||
MAI 16 | 711 ANSWERS Oilers trade deadline acquisition may be healthy scratch for round 3 of playoffs Do you think Frederic could be a healthy scratch in the playoffs? | ||
| Yes | 281 | 39.5 % |
| No, he's too good | 430 | 60.5 % |
| List of polls | ||
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