Trent Frederic is embracing Mike Babcock's arrival as a chance to wipe away last season and start over in Edmonton.
Frederic said he's excited to return with a fresh start and called Babcock's arrival an opportunity for a "complete fresh slate."
That's a meaningful message before camp. Frederic isn't hiding from the fact that he wants next season to feel different from the one Edmonton just finished.
A coaching change gives him that opening. Babcock arrives without being tied to previous line combinations, deployment choices or assumptions about where Frederic belongs in the lineup.
That makes September especially important for the winger. A strong camp could move him from simply holding a depth role into a more trusted assignment under a new staff.
Frederic also sounds ready for the change rather than wary of it. Players don't always react enthusiastically when a demanding new coach arrives, but his public response was clearly positive.
For Edmonton, that buy-in matters. Babcock will need more than Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl driving the team if the Oilers want better balance throughout the lineup.
“I'm just excited to come back next year and just have a fresh start, and pretty excited to have Babs [Mike Babcock] and get kind of a complete fresh slate.”
- Trent Frederic, via *Oilers Now*
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Trent Frederic makes his feelings clear to Mike Babcock after difficult season
The fresh-slate language also puts pressure on Frederic himself. A new coach can erase old perceptions, but it also means roles have to be earned again once camp starts.
Babcock will have options throughout the bottom six, so Frederic can't assume his place is settled simply because he's returning. His physical game and ability to handle different assignments will matter.
Stan Bowman hired Babcock to put his own stamp on the Oilers, and that creates openings for players willing to adapt quickly.
Frederic is already signaling that he wants to be one of them. His comments suggest he's looking at the coaching change as an opportunity rather than another layer of uncertainty.
That could be especially important if Babcock spreads responsibilities deeper through the forward group instead of leaning so heavily on Edmonton's biggest names.
The next step is turning that optimism into a role. Fresh starts sound good in August, but camp decides who earns top-nine minutes, who stays in the bottom six and who loses ground.
Frederic has made his position clear before that competition begins. He's ready for Babcock, ready for a reset and ready to show that last season doesn't have to define what comes next.
Will Mike Babcock bring out a better version of Trent Frederic this season?
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