Flavin Media

No matter how poorly or well a team is playing in the NHL, the need to find offensive talent for consistent success is paramount. With limited cap space again and fewer pieces to trade, we’ll probably have to deal an NHL-level player.

With Trent Frederic, his time here has been focused on sticking to team structure and providing an element of nastiness while still cashing in on certain scoring opportunities. However, the impact of his physicality is not always consistent, and his lack of foot speed doesn’t complement the team’s aspiring decisive forechecking identity. I do worry about losing the Frederic–Coyle chemistry, but you know who Frederic is—and sometimes you need to take a chance to acquire potential scoring.

Looking at Frederic’s contract, you get excited about one of the few opportunities to open a window of cap space. Acquiring roughly $2.3 million in cap relief would free up room to potentially add two more agile—but sporadically skilled—players who could thrive in the system and complement the third and fourth lines.

Potential counter moves could involve trading Frederic to the Capitals for Nic Dowd and acquiring a promising shooter like Arthur Kaliyev from the Kings.