Friedman was selected in the eleventh round of the 1991 NHL Entry Draft, 222nd overall, by the Quebec Nordiques. During the 1993–94 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season Friedman was voted captain of the Terriers. Friedman had two brief NHL stints, in the 1997–98 and 1998–99 with the Edmonton Oilers and Nashville Predators, primarily as an enforcer.