Every time we put a ceiling on what Trent Frederic may be as a hockey participant, the Bruin ahead pushes it a little bit bit increased.
At first, the Bruins ahead regarded like he could be a fourth line wing who wasn’t afraid to throw his fists. But then when Jim Montgomery took over as coach season final season, Frederic bought to play totally on a highly-skilled third line with Taylor Hall and Charlie Coyle and proved he may carry his weight, notching a career-high 17 objectives.
But with Hall traded to Chicago and Coyle transferring up within the lineup, it was honest to query simply how Frederic would carry out in what seemed to be a transitional season, with no apparent linemates.
The reply? Quite effectively, really.
In the B’s 4-1 in Columbus on Tuesday, he scored his third aim in two video games, giving him 10 objectives and placing him on a tempo to hit the 20-goal plateau. In the earlier recreation, a contentious 5-3 win over the Detroit Red Wings, his talent set was on full show, particularly when he put the B’s on the board with a nifty backhander, ran over goalie Alex Lyon after which instantly challenged Wings’ defenseman Ben Chiarot for a earlier transgression he didn’t need to let slide.
When he performed with Hall and Coyle final yr, some might have thought he was simply the fortunate man who was using shotgun. But he’s proving this yr that, at instances, he can drive a line himself, whether or not he’s taking part in wing or at heart, as he did in a few instances in the course of the B’s four-game win streak.
Montgomery is the 25-year-old Frederic’s largest booster, however even he wasn’t positive the 6-foot-3, 220-pound ahead may take the following step.
“Didn’t know,” stated Montgomery. “I thought he had the capabilities, but I didn’t know if he was going to go grab it. And it was much needed for us for him to go grab it for us. It’s nice to see guys grabbing their opportunities to their next steps in their developmental career, what you’re going to be. Now we need that development to come on the fourth line.”
On Tuesday, Frederic’s line with James van Riemsdyk and Danton Heinen helped put the sport away with two third-period objectives, with Frederic’s tally off a van Riemsdyk feed – a fairly expert snap shot that caught goalie Spencer Martin leaning the unsuitable method – placing the ultimate nail in Columbus. Montgomery sees a confidence.
“I think it’s his assertiveness and playing direct. And playing direct, with and without the puck, going to the net,” stated Montgomery of what’s impressed him most of Frederic’s recreation this yr. “I don’t think he’s trying to make east-west plays as often as he is making north plays. And it’s a big difference. I’ve said it before, his speed is underrated. When he gets flying, he can skate as good as anyone in the league. And that goal he scored (in Columbus), he beat two people up the ice to get that opportunity. And then the hands, they’ve never been questioned. He’s got a great shot, he has soft hands, he can deflect pucks. And I think having guys like JVR around and (Milan Lucic) earlier in the year, guys that know how to own the net front, that’s been a big development in him as well.”
Frederic additionally credited his offseason abilities work with assistant John McLean in addition to Jon Lounsbury to assist him get out of his consolation zone and be taught “what you’re get at and what you’re not good at.”
But maybe the largest bump to his profession was when Montgomery was employed. Frederic’s trajectory underneath former coach Bruce Cassidy was unsure at greatest. He seemed to be trending as a profession fourth liner.
But Montgomery, who makes his low season dwelling in St. Louis, had some familiarity with Frederic on a private and athletic stage. He and Frederic’s father, Bob, belonged to the Missouri Athletic Club. He additionally recruited Frederic to play on the University of Denver and, although Frederic in the end selected Wisconsin, the participant stated it was a constructive expertise.
While Frederic’s needed to earn his ice time from Montgomery like anybody else (“He scratched me the first game (last year) so I don’t know how much knowing him helped,” he stated with amusing), he offers a lot of the credit score for his flourishing to the coach.
“It’s mostly because Monty has given me confidence and let me play and learn from some of my mistakes I make during the game, just try not to repeat them. And he’s pretty good about that,” stated Frederic. “Pretty much all the credit goes to him. If he wasn’t here, I wouldn’t have as much productivity as I’ve had the last two years. A lot of it is him giving me that confidence and me just using my abilities.”
Perhaps Frederic is approaching his ceiling now. But along with his progress as a participant over the past yr and a half, he should still have a technique to go earlier than reaching it.
Loose pucks
After taking a puck to the mouth in Tuesday’s win in Columbus, Mason Lohrei was getting repairs on Wednesday morning and didn’t follow. He’s anticipated to be out there for Thursday’s recreation in opposition to the Penguins on the Garden. …
Montgomery stated Matt Poitras, eradicated with Team Canada from the World Junior Championships on Tuesday, was touring again from Sweden on Wednesday. He gained’t be out there on Thursday, however could possibly be a chance for Saturday’s recreation in opposition to the Lightning.
Source: www.bostonherald.com