Welcome back to Top Shelf Prospects, the daily column that brings you the next crop of professional hockey players. Each day I will bring you a new player profile or topical article in the lead-up to the 2015 NHL Draft. Be sure to bookmark the site, follow me on Twitter, and spread the word for the site that will bring you analytical and critical profiles and scouting reports! Last Word On Sports is your new headquarters for everything “NHL Draft”! For a Complete Listing of all our 2016 Draft Articles Click here.
The second line centre on the U.S. National Team Development Program U-18 squad, Trent Frederic comes from a very athletic family. His brother Grant plays for the Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL, older sister K.C. played volleyball at Oregon State University and older brother Gene played football at the University of Memphis. Trent Frederic had a strong season with the US NTDP putting up 20 goals and 20 assists for 40 points in 61 games. He added four goals and seven points in seven games as the US took home bronze at the 2016 World Under 18 Hockey Championship. He also took home a silver at the 2015 World Under 17 Hockey Challenge. Frederic is committed to play for the University of Wisconsin Badgers next year. Should he change his mind and elect to go the CHL route, his rights are owned by the Niagara Ice Dogs.
Trent Frederic Scouting Report: 2016 NHL Draft #58
Centre/Left Wing — shoots Left
Born Feb 11 1998 — St. Louis, MO
Height 6’02” — Weight 201 lbs [188 cm / 91 kg]
Trent Frederic shows good size, and plays a power forward style of game. He loves to get in on the fore check, pressuring defencemen, and throwing hits in the offensive zone. He creates turnovers, and generates offence by winning battles along the boards or working to establish space in front of the net. He protects the puck well down low, and is able to prolong possession and generate plays. Frederic has the ability to score goals, with a strong wrist shot and good release. He is also able to score in close, taking the puck to the net when he gets the opportunity, or throw fast hands that get rebounds and deflections. In terms of stick handling Frederic protects the puck well, but he is not one to make a lot of fancy one on one moves. His passing game also relies on making the simple play and does not typically look for the overly fancy or creative play. Frederic shows good hockey IQ, finding open space away from defenders, and making smart safe plays.
Frederic is a good skater. He has the speed and acceleration necessary to be dangerous off the rush, or be the first one in on the fore check. He could use some work on his edge work and agility, as he can sometimes have issues navigating through traffic. Frederic shows good power in his stride, with the ability to fight through checks and the balance to win battles on the boards as well as establish position in front of the net.
For a young player, Frederic is already developing a strong defensive game. He is tenacious on the back check and willing to use to use his size and grittiness in all three zones. Frederic is a smart player who contains well against the cycle game and provides good back pressure. He is good in the face-off circle, and does a good job cutting down passing and shooting lanes on the penalty kill.
It is unclear if Frederic has the agility, creativity and vision to play centre at the next level. A move to left wing may be in his future, as he does a good job of playing a simple straight ahead game, and has the offensive ability to score goals. The question will be if his offence develops enough in the next few years to see him as a second line or third line player. Frederic’s game is similar to David Backes of the St. Louis Blues from a stylistic perspective, but this is not a talent comparison or analysis based on potential.
The following is a compilation of Trent Frederic highlights, assembled from youtube.
Check back tomorrow for the #59 prospect on our NHL Draft Board.
Main Photo via USNTDP
