After being acquired by the Oilers at the deadline, Trent Frederic discovered that Edmonton was the place he wanted to be long term.

When the NHL trade deadline came and went in March, Trent Frederic found himself packing a suitcase and heading north of the border—not just geographically, but professionally and emotionally as well. Dealt from the Boston Bruins to the Edmonton Oilers in a move that initially flew under the radar, Frederic quickly became a crucial piece in a high-stakes playoff push.

At the time, the transaction was viewed as a depth acquisition. A gritty, versatile forward with size and a physical edge, Frederic was expected to plug into the bottom six and provide some toughness and responsibility down the middle. But as the weeks passed, it became clear to both Frederic and the Oilers that something deeper was happening.

“It just clicked,” Frederic said, sitting in his locker stall at Rogers Place following the team’s end-of-season meetings. “The guys welcomed me from day one, the coaching staff gave me trust, and the city—man, I can’t even describe it. Edmonton felt like home quicker than anywhere I’ve ever been.”

Frederic, 26, had spent his entire NHL career to that point with the Bruins, the team that drafted him 29th overall in the 2016 NHL Draft. While he carved out a role as a reliable checking forward with flashes of offensive potential, Frederic often found himself shifting between lines or fighting for ice time in Boston’s deep and disciplined system. There were moments of momentum, but rarely extended stretches of opportunity.

That changed in Edmonton.

Within two weeks of his arrival, Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch was singing Frederic’s praises, calling him “a tone-setter” and “one of the smartest 200-foot players on the roster.” Injuries and lineup reshuffling led to an expanded role in the final month of the regular season, and Frederic responded with four goals and six assists in his final 18 games—nearly matching his season totals from Boston in half the time.

More than the points, it was the edge he brought to a team seeking more grit in tight, physical matchups that made the difference. Frederic wasn’t just finishing checks—he was changing the energy of games.

“Every team needs a guy like Trent,” said Oilers captain Connor McDavid. “He’s got that rare mix of skill and snarl. He wins puck battles, he gets under guys’ skin, and he’s smart. He makes good decisions with and without the puck. He brought a different element to our room.”

Frederic’s impact carried into the postseason. Though the Oilers ultimately fell short of their Stanley Cup ambitions, his play was one of the most consistent bright spots in a grinding second-round series against the Dallas Stars. He logged heavy minutes on the penalty kill, led the team in hits, and even drew praise from TNT’s Wayne Gretzky, who called him “the kind of guy you win with.”

By the time the season ended, the conversation shifted quickly—not about Frederic’s fit in Edmonton, but whether he’d stay.

He will.

Just days after the Oilers’ exit, general manager Ken Holland and Frederic’s representatives reached a four-year agreement reportedly worth $16 million. The deal was announced formally at a press conference where Frederic, beaming in a navy Oilers blazer, made it clear: this is where he wants to be.

“I didn’t need to test free agency,” he said. “I already found what I was looking for—on and off the ice.”

For Holland, re-signing Frederic wasn’t just about retaining a deadline acquisition. It was about culture.

“We’ve talked a lot about identity the last few years,” Holland said. “Connor and Leon [Draisaitl] bring the high-end talent. But we’ve been searching for more balance, more edge. Trent gives us that. He’s a playoff-style player, and now he’s part of the core moving forward.”

The Oilers’ core has long been defined by brilliance—but also by questions of depth and durability in the playoffs. Frederic, alongside players like Mattias Ekholm and Zach Hyman, represents a newer, tougher layer to the group. One that is built not just for highlights, but for hard-fought hockey in May and June.

But what made Edmonton feel like home to Frederic so quickly?

He says it’s the passion.

“People here care. I mean, really care,” he said. “You walk into a restaurant and someone thanks you for a good shift. It’s not about goals or points—they notice the little things. Blocking a shot. Winning a faceoff. That means something. I’ve never felt more appreciated as a player.”

Frederic also credited the Oilers’ locker room culture. From veterans like Ryan Nugent-Hopkins to rising stars like Dylan Holloway, Frederic said he felt welcomed, respected, and challenged from the moment he arrived.

“It’s a good mix of guys,” he said. “There’s no ego. Everyone’s here to win. That’s all that matters.”

He also acknowledged McDavid’s leadership behind the scenes.

“He’s a quiet guy, but he leads by example every day. The way he prepares, the way he competes—it sets the standard. You either rise to that level or you don’t last long.”

Frederic rose. And now, with a long-term deal in hand, he’s ready to fully integrate into Edmonton’s future—not just as a supporting player, but as a consistent contributor.

The contract provides security, but Frederic is quick to note it doesn’t change his mindset.

“I’m still the same guy,” he said. “Nothing’s guaranteed. I’ve got to earn it every day—just like I always have.”

The Oilers will need him to. With salary cap constraints looming and an ever-tightening window to maximize the McDavid-Draisaitl era, players like Frederic—cost-effective, gritty, adaptable—become vital. He’s expected to slot into a key third-line role, potentially centering a new-look checking unit that can shut down top lines while chipping in offensively.

Knoblauch hinted that Frederic could even see time on the second power-play unit or in late-game defensive scenarios.

“He’s the kind of player coaches love,” Knoblauch said. “You trust him in all situations. And his work ethic sets the tone for others.”

Fans have embraced him too. Since the extension, Frederic’s jersey sales have surged locally, and fan-made signs dubbing him “Freddy the Finisher” have started appearing around Rogers Place.

It’s a long way from where his season started—with questions about his fit in Boston, minutes shrinking, and speculation that he might be on the trade block for good. Now, he’s found something more than minutes. He’s found a home.

“I think it’s rare in this league to find a place where everything just fits,” Frederic said. “From the team to the city to the fans—it’s all here.”

And with that, the Oilers—once a team known for leaning heavily on a few superstars—may have just found one more crucial piece of the puzzle in a rugged, reliable, and newly re-signed forward who wasn’t always the biggest name, but may prove to be one of the most important.

Trent Frederic came to Edmonton at the deadline with no expectations. He’s staying with belief, purpose, and a contract that says what he and the Oilers both already knew: he belongs.