Bruins select Trent Frederic with 29th pick in 2016 NHL draft
"He’s got size and strength in the middle of the ice."
The Bruins surprised a few people by selecting Trent Frederic of the United States Under-18 Development Team with the 29th overall selection of the first round of the 2016 NHL draft. It was the Bruins’ second first-round selection on Friday, and the sort of unexpected draft pick that general manager Don Sweeney and the organization was criticized for last summer.
#WelcometoBoston, Trent! pic.twitter.com/DGh2pyahNx
— x – Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) June 25, 2016
Frederic has committed to the University of Wisconsin for the 2016-17 season. The St. Louis, Missouri native said when it came down to choosing a school, the decision was between Wisconsin and Boston University.
“It was really between BU and Wisconsin, those were my major two” Frederic said as he met the Boston media for the first time Friday night in Buffalo. “It was a tough decision for me, it felt like it was closer to home, I guess Wisconsin was. It’s probably a school I would want to go to even if I wasn’t playing hockey, so that one of the decisions why.”
“I’m pumped…
and a little speechless right now.” pic.twitter.com/UKdBigpKd8
— x – Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) June 25, 2016
At 6-2 and 204 pounds, Frederic is a big body who is strong on the puck. After just five goals and nine assists in 55 games for the Under-17 Development Team in 2015-16, Frederic doubled his production in 61 games for the U-18 team last season with 20 goals and 20 assists.
Frederic described himself as a “two-way, physical player that’s good with the puck,” and likened himself to David Backes of the St. Louis Blues.
“I think he’s got versatility. He’s got size and strength in the middle of the ice that’s important to us, people spoke very highly of Trent as a character, the complete level is very high” Sweeney said of Frederic. “Going to a good program, going to continue to develop. You look at the size of the player, strength up the middle of the ice is an area we have a lot of very, very skilled wingers that are in our system now. I think he will complement, where he necessarily fits in the lineup is still to be determined.”
https://twitter.com/NHLBruins/status/746551492111384576
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