By: Tom Calautti | Follow me on Twitter @TCalauttis
The Boston Bruins were dealt a potentially season-ending blow Sunday when General Manager Don Sweeney announced that defenseman Hampus Lindholm ‘is unlikely to return for the rest of the season.’ In addition to the Lindholm news, Sweeney also reported that Charlie McAvoy, although doing better following his 4 Nations Faceoff injury, has ‘no timeline’ on a return to play. With Boston sitting one point out of a potential playoff spot with a game in hand, the odds of making the postseason seem less likely than ever.
Given the team’s injury situation, Sweeney said Sunday that the Bruins will take a ‘much more cautious approach’ to this season’s trade deadline. The team may be cautious in acquiring ‘win now’ players, but they can be aggressive while shopping two of their bottom six forwards.
According to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, “Trent Frederic and Justin Brazeau are two names to keep a close eye on out of Boston.” He adds, “Both are on expiring deals, extensive talks have halted, and multiple teams are interested in both guys.”
With each passing day, it becomes more evident that Boston should and will become a seller at the deadline, with Frederic and Brazeau as two of the main pieces going out the door. The question for Bruins fans is what kind of return can they expect for the pair of bottom-six forwards?
Trent Frederic
This season just hasn’t been Trent Frederic’s year. After posting 17-14-31 two years ago and 18-22-40 last season, Frederic seemed poised to continue his ascent into one of the better power forwards in the NHL. Unfortunately for him (and the Bruins), his numbers have plummeted this season to eight goals, seven assists, and 15 points through 56 games.
Despite the drop in production, Frederic is still a menacing presence (6’3″ and 221lbs) with playoff experience and a scoring touch that most bottom-six forwards don’t have. He’s a solid forechecker who isn’t afraid to drop the gloves, plays on the penalty kill, and can slot into any of the three forward positions in a pinch. His versatility, grit, and experience make him a welcome addition to any contender. So, how much does that go for on the open market?
The trade I would use as a benchmark for a potential Frederic deal is Tanner Jeannot of the LA Kings. The Tampa Bay Lightning shocked the hockey world when they traded five draft picks and a prospect to the Nashville Predators for Jeannot in 2023. Jeannot was having a down year after scoring a career-high 24 goals the season prior. I hate to burst your bubble, Bruins fans, but you won’t see that type of return for Trent Frederic.
However, Jeannot was traded from Tampa Bay to the Los Angeles Kings after two down seasons (22 points in 22-23 and 14 points in 23-24) in exchange for a second—and fourth-round pick. The Kings were a playoff team that valued Jeannot’s grit, snarl, and physicality and was willing to pay a hefty price.
When you look at other recent trades involving bottom-six forwards with Frederic’s profile, it becomes clear how the Bruins should value him. Despite his injury history, 29-year-old Anthony Mantha was traded for a second and a fourth-round pick last season. Brandon Duhaime, the epitome of a grinder with limited upside, went for a third-round pick. In 2022, Andrew Copp (who only surpassed 20 goals once in 10 seasons) was traded from Winnipeg to New York for two second-round picks, a fifth-round pick, and a prospect.
With these deals in mind, it’s clear how the Bruins should approach moving Frederic: the conversation starts at a second-round pick, and the bidding war goes from there. Players like Frederic are valuable, especially during playoff time, and teams will pay to acquire this kind of talent.
Justin Brazeau
Unfortunately for the Bruins, Brazeau hasn’t taken off the way they thought he would this season. The 6’6″ Brazeau has 10-10-20 over 54 games this season, playing on the third, fourth, and (at times) second lines. He’s tied for second on the team in powerplay goals (4) and has thrived as a net-front presence. The 27-year-old probably doesn’t have a value as high as Frederic due to his less aggressive nature, but that doesn’t mean he won’t be coveted around the league.
Brazeau’s age, ability to hold onto pucks in the offensive zone, contributions on the powerplay, and puck-possession skills make him an enticing fourth-line option for most teams. The downsides to his game are his lack of straight-line speed and consistent background of producing at the NHL level.
When I think about trade comps for Brazeau, the best-case scenario is the 2024 trade of Yakov Trenin from Nashville to Colorado for a third-round pick and a prospect swap. Trenin is a rugged winger with a 15-plus goal upside that forechecks hard and can score in and around the net. He’s almost identical to Brazeau, except he plays with a bit more bite to his game.
Other comparisons I would use for a Brazeau deal are the Duhaime trade mentioned above, the 2023 deal in which Jordan Greenway (a young power forward with promise) was traded from Minnesota to Buffalo for a second and a fifth, and the 2023 trade in which checking center Teddy Blueger was sent from Pittsburgh to Vegas in exchange for a third-round pick and a prospect.
Since the Bruins are pitching teams on a strong, bottom-six winger with a scoring touch and the ability to contribute to the powerplay, trade conversations should start with a third-round pick. Maybe a team latches onto Brazeau’s upside, but his value will stay firmly among multiple mid-round picks.
The trade deadline is approaching, and Don Sweeney must make some moves to prepare this team for the future. It may not be as thorough a retool as possible, but getting representative value for Frederic and Brazeau could go a long way toward shaping this team’s future.
Leave a Reply