The Edmonton Oilers once again came up short in their quest for the Stanley Cup this spring, falling to the Florida Panthers in the Final for the second straight year.
Despite the disappointment, general manager Stan Bowman hasn’t lost confidence in one of his key trade deadline additions.
Among the most debated moves this offseason was the Oilers’ decision to hand forward Trent Frederic an eight-year, $3.8 million extension. Frederic, acquired from the Boston Bruins, had limited impact in the regular season—appearing in just one game due to injury—but made his presence known in the playoffs. In 22 postseason games, he tallied four points while racking up 85 hits and 15 blocked shots in a hard-nosed depth role.
Speaking on the 100% Hockey Podcast, Bowman defended the long-term deal, responding to fan backlash over the max-term extension.
“Trent’s a rare kind of player,” Bowman said. “He’s big, tough, and fearless—he’ll go right up to the opposing bench and challenge anyone. That kind of presence matters.”
Bowman also praised Frederic’s character, suggesting his value goes beyond the stat sheet.
“He’s just a great guy all around,” Bowman added. “The type of person you want in your locker room and representing your team.”
The GM emphasized that roster balance factored heavily into the decision, saying Frederic’s physical style was needed to complement some of the smaller, more skill-oriented players on the roster.
“I knew we’d have some smaller guys on the team, so adding size and toughness was a priority,” Bowman explained.
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