From the first line to begin the season all the way down to the fourth line not even 10 games in.

That’s how is started vs. how it’s going for Edmonton Oilers forward Trent Frederic.

But before you go throwing your hands in the air griping about eight more years of THIS?!?!, let’s take a look at his whirlwind ride since arriving in Edmonton.

He didn’t exactly kick down the door to Rogers Place at last year’s trade deadline, since he showed up with a pre-existing ankle injury that limited the first-round pick of the Boston Bruins in 2016 to just 7:10 worth of playing time in his only regular-season appearance.

He went on to earn four points (one goal, three assists) in 22 playoff games before signing a $30.8-million contract in the off-season for the aforementioned eight years.

What about the million-dollar question?

If you think that doesn’t come with a whole heap of expectations from the fan base, if not management, think again.

“Much is given, much is expected,” Frederic said. “I don’t know if there’s more, there’s always pressure, you want to play well. No one puts on more pressure than myself.

“You have that mental dialogue, and when it’s not going well it’s not a great one. You just keep that positivity. It’s a long season so you go through these stretches. You obviously don’t want to do it at the beginning of the year because you don’t have much coin in the bank to show what you’ve done, so just keep fighting through.”

Frederic has banked one point in his first eight games. While it was a goal, it’s not exactly the productivity pictured when he was placed on the top line next to Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl coming into the season.

So, what’s been the trouble?

Frederic is not making excuses. His main problem has become one of optics as the first one to go under the microscope in the experiment to replace Zach Hyman. And the top-line experiment remains ongoing, to the point where McDavid and Draisaitl are even being split up. So, he is far from the only one to blame here.

At the same time, being picked to go first speaks volumes of what this staff thinks of Frederic’s future with the club.

“I think, as with a lot of guys, just not making enough plays with the puck and feeling that pressure,” said head coach Kris Knoblauch.

“He’s a player that we’re going to rely on to play a little on the edge, some physicality. And right now, we’d like to see a little bit more from him.

“He does want to contribute, wants to play well. We’ve moved him around a lot, whether that’s been right wing, left wing, centre, hopefully we can have some stability for him so he can play to his identity. I think he’s just trying to find his game and I have no doubt he’ll get there.”

G-MAN’S TAKE: Not able to keep up with McDavid and Draisaitl? Try getting in line. Frederic’s far from the only one whose been unable to keep up with two of the most gifted offensive talents there are in the game.

The only question is, how long will it take for him to find his niche in this lineup? He’s far from the only new face looking to establish themselves here, as one of seven new forwards among the 13 on the Oilers roster right now.

But Frederic has something not everyone else does: The size, physicality and attitude to work on that part of his game when the offence feels like it has hit a wall.

If he can get the body going first, it could end up creating room for the hands to follow.

E-mail: gmoddejonge@postmedia.com

On Twitter: @GerryModdejonge

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