When the Bruins used the 29th overall pick in the 2016 draft on Trent Frederic, most prospect watchers scratched their heads. After all, Frederic had just come off a full season with the USNTDP where he scored a shrug-worthy 40 points in 60 games. He graded well defensively, but his lack of offensive pop just didn’t seem to square with his new status as a first round pick. Even Keith Gretzky, then Bruins director of amateur scouting, famously admitted that Frederic ”is not going to be a top-two line guy.” Not exactly inspiring stuff.
Fast-forward two seasons, and Frederic has turned into a developmental success story.