Trent Frederic’s continued growth a boon for Bruins

Every time we put a ceiling on what Trent Frederic can be as a hockey player, the Bruin forward pushes it a little bit higher.

At first, the Bruins forward looked like he might be a fourth line wing who wasn’t afraid to throw his fists. But then when Jim Montgomery took over as coach season last season, Frederic got to play primarily on a highly-skilled third line with Taylor Hall and Charlie Coyle and proved he could carry his weight, notching a career-high 17 goals.

But with Hall traded to Chicago and Coyle moving up in the lineup, it was fair to question just how Frederic would perform in what looked to be a transitional season, with no obvious linemates.

The answer? Quite well, actually.

In the B’s 4-1 in Columbus on Tuesday, he scored his third goal in two games, giving him 10 goals and putting him on a pace to hit the 20-goal plateau. In the previous game, a contentious 5-3 win over the Detroit Red Wings, his skill set was on full display, especially when he put the B’s on the board with a nifty backhander, ran over goalie Alex Lyon and then immediately challenged Wings’ defenseman Ben Chiarot for a previous transgression he didn’t want to let slide.

When he played with Hall and Coyle last year, some may have thought he was just the lucky guy who was riding shotgun. But he’s proving this year that, at times, he can drive a line himself, whether he’s playing wing or at center, as he did in a couple of times during the B’s four-game win streak.

Montgomery is the 25-year-old Frederic’s biggest booster, but even he wasn’t sure the 6-foot-3, 220-pound forward could take the next step.

“Didn’t know,” said Montgomery. “I thought he had the capabilities, but I didn’t know if he was going to go grab it. And it was much needed for us for him to go grab it for us. It’s nice to see guys grabbing their opportunities to their next steps in their developmental career, what you’re going to be. Now we need that development to come on the fourth line.”

On Tuesday, Frederic’s line with James van Riemsdyk and Danton Heinen helped put the game away with two third-period goals, with Frederic’s tally off a van Riemsdyk feed – a pretty skilled snap shot that caught goalie Spencer Martin leaning the wrong way – putting the final nail in Columbus. Montgomery sees a confidence.

“I think it’s his assertiveness and playing direct. And playing direct, with and without the puck, going to the net,” said Montgomery of what’s impressed him most of Frederic’s game this year. “I don’t think he’s trying to make east-west plays as often as he is making north plays. And it’s a big difference. I’ve said it before, his speed is underrated. When he gets flying, he can skate as good as anyone in the league. And that goal he scored (in Columbus), he beat two people up the ice to get that opportunity. And then the hands, they’ve never been questioned. He’s got a great shot, he has soft hands, he can deflect pucks. And I think having guys like JVR around and (Milan Lucic) earlier in the year, guys that know how to own the net front, that’s been a big development in him as well.”

Frederic also credited his offseason skills work with assistant John McLean as well as Jon Lounsbury to help him get out of his comfort zone and learn “what you’re get at and what you’re not good at.”

But perhaps the biggest bump to his career was when Montgomery was hired. Frederic’s trajectory under former coach Bruce Cassidy was uncertain at best. He appeared to be trending as a career fourth liner.

But Montgomery, who makes his off-season home in St. Louis, had some familiarity with Frederic on a personal and athletic level. He and Frederic’s father, Bob, belonged to the Missouri Athletic Club. He also recruited Frederic to play at the University of Denver and, though Frederic ultimately chose Wisconsin, the player said it was a positive experience.

While Frederic’s had to earn his ice time from Montgomery like anyone else (“He scratched me the first game (last year) so I don’t know how much knowing him helped,” he said with a laugh), he gives much of the credit for his flourishing to the coach.

“It’s mostly because Monty has given me confidence and let me play and learn from some of my mistakes I make during the game, just try not to repeat them. And he’s pretty good about that,” said Frederic. “Pretty much all the credit goes to him. If he wasn’t here, I wouldn’t have as much productivity as I’ve had the last two years. A lot of it is him giving me that confidence and me just using my abilities.”

Perhaps Frederic is approaching his ceiling now. But with his growth as a player over the last year and a half, he may still have a way to go before reaching it.

Loose pucks

After taking a puck to the mouth in Tuesday’s win in Columbus, Mason Lohrei was getting repairs on Wednesday morning and did not practice. He’s expected to be available for Thursday’s game against the Penguins at the Garden. …

Montgomery said Matt Poitras, eliminated with Team Canada from the World Junior Championships on Tuesday, was traveling back from Sweden on Wednesday. He won’t be available on Thursday, but could be a possibility for Saturday’s game against the Lightning.

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