BOSTON — The selling has begun in Boston.
Two forwards who didn’t have the seasons the Bruins had hoped for are headed to the defending Western Conference champs as Boston dealt its most accomplished fighter.
The Devils confirmed that the Bruins are shipping Trent Frederic and Max Jones to the Edmonton Oilers as part of a three-way trade with the New Jersey.
The Bruins will get a Max Wanner, a lesser defenseman prospect, and two draft picks — a second-rounder in 2025 (from St. Louis) and a fourth-round pick in 2026.
The Bruins will retain 50 percent of Frederic’s salary for this season but gained $1.15M in salary cap space.
New Jersey and Edmonton also swapped prospects. Boston University’s Shane Lachance of Andover heads to New Jersey, while Petr Hauser goes to Edmonton. The Devils will take on the other half of Frederic’s salary.
Wanner, a 21-year-old 6-foot-3, 184-pound defenseman, will report to Providence. He’s a former seventh-round pick who had a goal and two assists in Bakersfield of the AHL.
Frederic, who is currently out with a lower-body injury he suffered last week, had just eight goals and seven assists this season, a sizable step back after having his two best seasons under coach Jim Montgomery in 2022-23 and 2023-24.
Frederic will be an unrestricted free agent after the season. When he’s healthy, his floor is a big, physical wing with playoff experience. His ceiling includes some offense too. He led the Bruins in hits and was one of their most willing and capable fighters.
He had hoped to stay.
“That’s been my goal. I really like playing here. I like the guys. I like all the staff,” Frederic said on Feb. 24. “I’m obviously aware of the situation, being a UFA, not having a deal. I’m not oblivious to that. I don’t think like that. If something happens, I’ll react.”
Jones was a free agent signing in the offseason. The Bruins had hoped he’d be a physical bottom-six contributor with secondary scoring potential. After a training camp injury, he never found rhythm in the Bruins organization and spent most of the year in Providence.
- BETTING: Check out our MA sports betting guide, where you can learn basic terminology, definitions and how to read odds for those interested in learning how to bet in Massachusetts.
