The Edmonton Oilers’ loss to the Minnesota Wild was different because the Oilers, in what has become a sporadic display on ice lately, bared their fangs. The blue and orange squad put up an exceptional fight but ultimately fell short against Minnesota. The Wild has truly amped up their game over an admirably short period of time, from languishing at the bottom of the standings not too long ago to occupying the third position with 35 points.

Stuart Skinner saved his face on home ice by making 23 saves. On the subject of contentious players, appeals to the Oilers management to take crucial steps regarding a particular forward have been loud, and not without reason.

Trent Frederic Weighs in On His Underwhelming Season With the Edmonton Oilers

Over the 27 games he has played with the Oilers, Frederic has managed two goals. For a player who has been signed long-term, on a $30.8 million contract with an average annual value of $3.85 million, such a no-show is an absolute embarrassment. The team, the fans, and, as Frederic made clear in his recent interaction with Sportsnet’s Mark Spector, the forward himself have higher expectations.

Moreover, now that Edmonton is expected to be his home for the foreseeable future, thanks to the no-movement clause for the first four years of his eight-year contract, Frederic just wants to make himself useful for the Oilers.

“All I care about is what my teammates think of me. I know they all probably like me as a guy. They probably want more from me as a player. So do I,” Frederic reportedly stated, as reported by Spector.

Moreover, Frederic, who will be 35 when he hits UFA status at the end of his current contract, has risen above individual interests and only wants the Oilers to flourish. “I just signed a contract that’s going to be my last one, probably. And I don’t really care about the individual stuff — I want a team to do well, that’s really all I care about.”

However, the nagging question haunting Frederic and the Oilers is how exactly the 27-year-old can help improve the Oilers’ odds of making a deep playoff run. Frederic’s time on ice has dipped considerably, and in him, the Oilers do not see a glimpse of the formidable Boston Bruins player they had once played against.

“Every period you walk in (to the dressing room), you want to do better than you have been. Show that you’re the player that they played against for years,” Frederic noted, dejection apparent in his words.

The 27-year-old forward just wants his teammates to be confident in him. “So yeah, it’s frustrating, and I don’t have the answer for getting out of it. It’s not going to be in one game, it’s not going to be five games. It’s going to take a little bit … to build your way up to get the trust of your teammates.”

Frederic further noted that spending more time on the sidelines has prompted him to think more critically about the circumstances and possibly strategize accordingly. The 27-year-old is desperate to gain the trust of his teammates and coach, and how he goes about it remains to be seen.