10 Tidbits on Matt Frattin, new LA Kings forward

Jonathan Bernier is now a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs and in return the Kings received ‘three assets’ – as Dean Lombardi would say – a second round pick in the 2014 or 15 draft, goaltender Ben Scrivens and forward Matt Frattin.

If you’ve been keeping up with your reading on MayorsManor, you already know that Dean Lombardi admitted he first tried to acquire Frattin two years ago when he left the University of North Dakota and turned pro.

Now, let’s take a closer look at the 25-year old forward using our popular 10 Tidbits format…

– Toronto originally selected him with the eight pick (99th overall) in the fourth round of the 2007 NHL Draft. LA had two selections that round, taking Alec Martinez four players prior to Frattin and later nabbing Dwight King 10 positions further down the board.

– He made his NHL debut on April 9, 2011 vs the Montreal Canadiens, just one day after signing his first pro contract. The following season Frattin split time between the Toronto Marlies (AHL) and the Maple Leafs. In 56 NHL games that year he posted eight goals and seven assists (15 points). With the Marlies he was nearly a point-per-game player, tallying 18 points in 23 games. He was back in the AHL during the lockout, but returned to the Leafs during the lockout-shortened season.

– The fourth goal of his career came against the Kings in December 2011, tying things up 2-2 in the third period. An interesting trivia note here is the game was the last of a four-game stretch where John Stevens coached the team while LA finalized paperwork on the hiring of Darryl Sutter. Here’s video of the goal:

– Frattin has also dealt with a knee injury off and on over the past year: “The first time they repaired it, there was a five to six month period (of recovery),” he shared. “Then, I played two months on it and re-tore it in (a game against) Buffalo, the third or fourth game after the lockout started. They cleaned it up and took 40% of the meniscus out. I was out for three weeks after that and then came back towards the later part of the season and into the playoffs and I felt like I was at 100% and playing like I was.”

– While in college, he posted outstanding numbers his senior season (60 points in 44 games, including leading all of Division I hockey with 36 goals) and was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award – given to the top collegiate hockey player. He was also a teammate of Derek Forbort, the Kings 2010 first round draft pick. Here’s what Frattin had to say about his former defenseman – “He definitely brings offense and defense to his game. I played two years with him and kept progressing as a player. He’s a great guy on and off the ice and he’s definitely a ‘room guy’ and a character guy that should help out in the future.”

– Brad Schlossman, one of the best sources for information on the UND program, provided the following notes about Frattin to MayorsManor: “He’s a flat-out goal scorer. Has one of the best shots you will see. Skates forward very well. Plays physical. The biggest thing you will notice with him though is that shot. He can beat goalies from outside the dot clean with a snap shot…He’s not somebody who will stick-handle around guys, but he has the speed to beat people wide.”

– Teammates at North Dakota and in Toronto describe as a habitual prankster.

– Frattin wasn’t aware that Lombardi had tried to trade for him previously. “That’s definitely exciting, knowing that the team that just traded for you definitely wanted you for the past couple of years,” he remarked. “I’m excited for an opportunity, wherever they slot me in that’s where I’m going to try to play my best. Personally, I didn’t know there were too many trade talks. You hear rumors within the media, but you try to not think too much of it. Toronto and the media is pretty crazy up there. Other than that, most of it was probably behind closed doors and I don’t think too many people knew about the trade rumors.”

– He might be an option at left wing, should the Kings need him there. “I’ve played a few games with Toronto on the left side,” he said. “I’m definitely comfortable over there, but my stronger sides my right side but I’m just going to come into camp and try to earn my spot.”

– Because the salary cap is topic number one this week, it’s also worth noting that Frattin has one year remaining on his current deal (for the 2013-14 season) and will be a Restricted Free Agent next summer.

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