The Edmonton Oilers are taking what head coach Kris Knoblauch calls a "drastic measure" with forward Trent Frederic, sidelining him as a healthy scratch as the team heads into the holiday break. Frederic was absent from Sunday's game against the Vegas Golden Knights, and it appears unlikely he will see ice time again until after the holidays.

Knoblauch emphasized that this decision doesn't signal a diminished role for Frederic within the team. Instead, the coach framed it as a "reset" period, believing that Frederic, despite being a significant part of the Oilers, is currently struggling and needs to step away to regain his form.

When questioned about how Frederic might respond to being a healthy scratch, a move some perceive as drastic, Knoblauch stood firm in his belief in Frederic's future contribution. He stated, "I believe Trent is going to come back into the lineup and be a big part of our team moving forward, whether that's next game, a week down the road, or whenever it is". He drew parallels to situations where players underperforming during the regular season find a renewed sense of purpose and excel in the playoffs, suggesting that a break can provide a similar fresh start.

Knoblauch elaborated on the rationale behind this decision, suggesting it's not a simple case of benching Frederic to encourage harder play. He believes that something is currently hindering Frederic's game and that he needs time to rebuild his confidence, take a break, and return revitalized after the holiday season. "I think it's just that idea of seeing the scoring reset and everyone having zeros across the board. It feels like a fresh start," Knoblauch explained. While he couldn't guarantee Frederic's immediate return after the break, he affirmed his eventual return to the lineup, emphasizing Frederic's potential value to the team.

There was also a question of whether a previous injury was still impacting Frederic’s performance. While not explicitly saying it was, Knoblauch acknowledged Frederic wasn't himself last season and that any lingering effects could be slowing him down or making him hesitant.

The Oilers are dealing with other player issues as well. Goaltender Tristan Jarry is sidelined for a few weeks with a lower-body injury and was placed on injured reserve. Connor Ingram was recalled from AHL Bakersfield and started against Vegas.