The 29th overall pick in the 2016 NHL Draft was lauded for his ability to play a dependable 200-foot game and contribute as a solid penalty killer.

BOSTON - Trent Frederic arrived at last summer's development camp with the reputation for being a heavy, well-rounded centermen with room for growth in his offensive skills.

But the Bruins brass believed that, with time, Frederic's offensive talents would emerge. The feeling was that being slotted behind highly touted skill players Kieffer Bellows and Clayton Keller at the U.S. National Team Development Program forced Frederic into more of a two-way role and shielded some of his offense.

"He probably has a little bit better skill than people give him credit for," Bruins assistant coach Jay Pandolfo said last July. "I think he just went under the radar playing for that U.S. team with some top skilled players."

Fast forward a year and Frederic has been flying anywhere but under the radar. During his freshman campaign at the University of Wisconsin, the St. Louis native emerged as one of the Badgers' offensive stalwarts.

The 6-foot-3, 210-pound left shot centered fellow Bruins prospect Cameron Hughes and Minnesota Wild draft pick Luke Kunin (15th overall in 2016) on Wisconsin's top line and averaged over a point per game during his rookie season. In 30 games, Frederic notched 33 points, which placed him second on the Badgers behind Kunin (38 points). Frederic's 15 goals also ranked second to Kunin's 22.

For his efforts, Frederic was named the Big Ten's Rookie of the Year and also earned a spot on the league's Second All-Star Team.

"Because of some of the players they had in his age group, he maybe played a little bit down the lineup which can be what it is," Bruins Player Development Coordinator Jamie Langenbrunner said earlier this week at the 11th Annual Boston Bruins Development Camp. "But at Wisconsin, he's been playing in the top six. As a freshman on a pretty decent Wisconsin team, he was one of the driving guys in that top six.

"Obviously, time will tell as he turns to pro hockey…what he'll be. But, there's more skill to his game than I think people thought coming out of the draft."

Frederic said he did not set any specific markers for himself entering his first season with the Badgers and credited head coach Tony Granato and associate head coach Don Granato - who recently left to become an assistant on Joel Quenneville's staff in Chicago - for helping to ease his adjustment to the collegiate game.

"The college life is a little bit different than I'm used to, you don't have your parents around, so you have to be responsible," said Frederic. "As the hockey standpoint went along, it was great…my game went up and gave me a lot of confidence."

One tangible improvement Frederic made was sharpening his hands, which was a recommendation from Bruins management following last summer's camp. Frederic took that advice to heart and worked closely with Hughes, who ranked third on the Badgers last season with 32 points (7 goals, 25 assists), to put in the extra work.

"I think staying on the ice after practice and working with Cameron Hughes…he's got pretty good hands so I've been doing some drills with him and I guess I've improved them a little bit," Frederic said matter-of-factly.

Langenbrunner believes that part of Frederic's advancement in that area was a result of the 19-year-old growing into his body. Frederic has shot up an inch and added bulk to his frame, particularly his upper body, since last July.

"As a 17-, 18-year-old kid and 6-2, 6-3, or whatever he is now, you're not always going to be fully coordinated," said Langenbrunner. "Part of that is growing into your body. Part of it is putting in the time, and I think he's been doing that. In talking with the coaches there, Tony Granato and his crew, he's first one on the ice, last one off, goes in whenever he can to put in that extra work, and it shows.

"His development from the beginning of the season to the end, he was a very good player in college hockey by the end of the year."

Video: Bruins draft F Trent Frederic No. 29

Following this week's development camp, Frederic will have a couple of week to rest before heading out to Plymouth, Michigan, for the 2017 World Junior Summer Showcase from July 29-Aug. 5. He will join fellow Bruins prospect and 2016 draft pick Ryan Lindgren in auditioning for a spot on Team USA's squad at the 2018 World Junior Championship.

Frederic has represented his country during international play on two previous occasions, and was a force at the 2016 U-18 World Juniors, where he tallied a 4 goals and 3 assists in seven games, while helping the Americans to a bronze medal.

"It's awesome," said Frederic. "I went [to the camp] last year and a lot of my buddies from my U-18 team were there, so it's kind of like a reunion, you see a lot of your buddies and get to put the USA jersey on which is awesome."

And after that, it's back to Madison, where Frederic will be looking to build on what was a stellar collegiate debut.

"It's starting to kick up, you've got the World Junior camp coming up," said Frederic. "You have a jump on things because the college kids don't play as many games, then you get a little break and then you're back into it, so it's pretty nice."

Video: Trent Frederic meets with media at Development Camp

The 2017 Boston Bruins Development Camp is presented by AT&T.