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Oilers make hard call to healthy scratch core forward in huge game vs. Vegas
Photo credit: Edmonton Oilers Raw
The Edmonton Oilers signed Trent Frederic to an 8 year contract to be a core player, but now he's found himself as a healthy scratch in a huge divisional game.
Trent Frederic has been given 36 games this season, and has yet to find any way to contribute to the team. Coach Knoblauch has fully admitted he simply doesn't fit the roster, and Frederic agrees.
Now, they're making the harsh call of benching their supposedly physical forward against a notoriously physical Vegas team.
Edmonton Oilers will healthy scratch Trent Frederic vs. Vegas Golden Knights
According to Coach Knoblauch in today's pre-game press conference, Trent Frederic will be scratched today for Curtis Lazar.
In 36 games, Frederic has just 2 goals and 3 points with a -9 rating. He's failed to make up for the lack of offence by contributing with physical play, he doesn't kill penalties, and the coach clearly doesn't trust him to play center.
This year has been a total disaster for Frederic, and he absolutely deserves to be scratched. The fact that he's not playing should be a wake up call, but to do it in a critical divisional game is a stern message too.
Analysts have raised the fact that Frederic's speed has declined this season in the aftermath of his high-ankle sprain last year.
Maybe there's a chance he can regain his speed, but it also looks like the Oilers just didn't do their homework on this trade and signing.
In the first year of his 8-year, $30.8M contract Frederic has been a total failure. He needs to find a way to impact the game next time he's in the lineup, or things may not be recoverable.
The Oilers may be on the hook for this bad contract for a long time.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 21 | 632 ANSWERS Oilers make hard call to healthy scratch core forward in huge game vs. Vegas Do you think Frederic will improve after this wake up call? | ||
| Yes | 282 | 44.6 % |
| No | 350 | 55.4 % |
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