Trent Frederic might not even crack Edmonton's top eight forwards, and that's exactly why this contract is drawing so much heat.
The Oilers signed Frederic to an eight-year deal worth $3,850,000 annually, and analysts are questioning it hard heading into this season.
Frederic posted just 7 points in 74 games last season, going minus-15 for a team that finished 41-30-11.
That's a rough return for a player locked into a contract this long, especially one still working his way back from a serious ankle injury that limited him through the 2025 playoffs.
The real argument against this deal isn't about disliking Frederic. It's about roster math in a league with almost no margin for error.
That $3,850,000 tied up long-term is money Edmonton can't use elsewhere, and last year's goaltending scramble is proof of what that kind of constraint actually costs.
Edmonton had to trade away Brett Kulak and Stuart Skinner last year and rebuild its entire crease on the fly, largely because the cap sheet didn't leave room to keep both Skinner and Tristan Jarry.
Why depth players rarely earn deals this long
History isn't kind to long-term contracts for bottom-six role players. Names like Artturi Lehkonen and J.T. Compher get pointed to constantly as cautionary tales around the league.
The blueprint that actually works is simple. Stars get paid early and for a long time. Depth players earn term through results, not potential.
A one-year, prove-it deal made far more sense for a player coming off Frederic's injury history and limited production, giving him a real path to a bigger contract if he bounced back.
Instead, Edmonton committed eight years before seeing what a healthy Frederic actually looks like at full strength.
GM Stan Bowman made similar long-term bets on Connor Murphy and Jason Dickinson last summer too, though both are viewed as clearer roster fits than Frederic.
Frederic still carries real physical tools, but at $3,850,000 for eight years, Edmonton needed far more certainty than what he showed last season before locking in that number.
Was signing Trent Frederic to an 8-year deal a mistake for the Oilers?
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