B’s use forward thinking on Frederic
When the Bruins spent the 29th overall pick in the 2016 draft on forward Trent Frederic, former amateur scouting chief Keith Gretzky raised some eyebrows by saying Frederic was going to be a bottom-six player. That’s something no fan base wants to hear about their first-rounder, even if being a third-line center in the NHL is not such a bad thing for a guy taken in that spot.
But Frederic still went out and showed he might be a little more than that last year. As a freshman for Wisconsin, Frederic climbed the depth chart throughout the season and, despite suffering a broken hand in December, was a point-per-game player for the Badgers with 15 goals and 18 assists in 30 games.
Has there been an organizational re-thinking of what Frederic can be?
“There is in my mind so far,” said Jamie Langebrunner, the Bruins player development coordinator. “He plays top line at Wisconsin. … Obviously, time will tell what he’ll be in pro hockey but there’s more skill to his game than people thought coming out of the draft.”
If Gretzky’s original projections fueled his fire at all, the affable Frederic hid it well. The St. Louisborn center is looking more inward as he develops.
“It’s just something he said and, if that’s where they think I’m going to fit in, wherever they want me, I’ll play there. But right now, I’m just trying to do my thing. Whatever line they want me to be on is where I’ll play. I just play my game and not worry about what other people say,” said Frederic.
“I’ve still got a lot to prove. I don’t really know what people are saying.”
Frederic certainly has the body to play pro hockey. He used his downtime to hit the gym and fill out his rock-solid 6-foot-1, 211-pound frame. He also worked on his hands, which had been a concern for the B’s.
“Part of it was him growing into his body,” said Langenbrunner. “As a 17- or 18-year-old and at (6-1), you’re not always going to be fully coordinated. Part of that is growing into your body. And part of it is putting in the time. He’s been doing that. In talking to his coaches there, Tony Granato and his crew, he’s the first one on the ice and the last one off, doing whatever he can to put in that extra work. And it shows. He was a very good player in college hockey by the end of the year.”
Lauzon on shelf
Jeremy Lauzon, the 52nd pick in the 2015 draft and part of the Dougie Hamilton trade, is not skating in development camp because of sports-hernia surgery six weeks ago. He suffered the injury during his junior playoffs with Rouyn-Noranda and, though he went to Providence after the season was over, the decision was made to shut him down.
“It’s better for me to take care of it now instead of having it bother me during my first pro season,” said Lauzon. “I was happy to have it taken care of now and recover with the help of the staff here and make sure I’m going to be ready for main camp and rookie camp.”
Maine decision
Goalie Jeremy Swayman, the B’s fourth-round pick (111th overall) last month, will be playing for the University of Maine in the fall, attracted to the school that’s produced Ben Bishop, Jimmy Howard and Garth Snow.
“I think the main thing that led me there is just their tradition of having great goaltenders and having an opportunity to make a legacy of myself there in a Maine uniform is pretty intriguing,” said Swayman. “It’s pretty exciting and I can’t wait to get there and do my job.”