The Chicago Blackhawks selected Anton Frondell with the No. 3 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. Frondell is 18 years old.
He is a center who is 6-foot-1 and 198 pounds. Before joining the Blackhawks, Frondell played for Djurgården in the SHL. Djurgården was eliminated from the SHL playoffs.
Frondell had 28 points in 43 regular-season games for Djurgården. He also won the World Junior Championship with Sweden this winter. Chicago Blackhawks coach Jeff Blashill plans to integrate Frondell into the lineup immediately.
We want to get him here as soon as possible and throw him into the fire.
Frondell is expected to be paired with star player Connor Bedard. The Chicago Blackhawks are one of the worst teams in the NHL and will not make the playoffs. Anton Frondell has made points in his early NHL games.
He made a heroic defensive play to prevent a goal in his debut. According to Sportbladet, Connor Bedard described Frondell as having looked brilliant so far, handling the transition from Sweden well. Bedard also expressed frustration he hasn't played better to help Frondell more but praised Frondell for doing everything right, according to Sportbladet.
Blashill compared Frondell to Jonathan Toews, citing similar attributes like strength with the puck, defensive responsibility, and hockey sense. According to Hockeysverige, Mats Hallin described Frondell as likely to play in the top six in Chicago and having an exceptional future, possibly as a captain. According to Hockeysverige, Anton Frondell described the experience as cool but emphasized wanting to stay humble and grounded.
He will play with a good player, that's for sure.
According to SVT Sport, Anton Frondell described a particular play as fun and noted it involved a bit of luck due to a goalie mistake. Frondell expressed his aspirations in an official statement, saying his dream is to play in the NHL as soon as possible and that he would return to Djurgården if he doesn't make it. He also praised Djurgården as the best team to play for, citing its large arena and passionate fans.
Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson commented on Frondell's potential, describing him as a smart, heavy player with a projectable NHL game. Jukka-Pekka Vuorinen, Central Scouting director of European scouting, added that Frondell is like a military tank with strong skating and hockey IQ. Blashill emphasized the team's eagerness to have Frondell.
The exact terms and incentives in Anton Frondell's entry-level contract beyond the base value have not been disclosed. Additionally, the specific timeline for when Anton Frondell will be permanently assigned to the Chicago Blackhawks' roster remains unclear. The long-term role and line combinations planned for Frondell with the Chicago Blackhawks are still being determined, as is the impact of his arrival on the team's performance and standings for the current season.
Details of any potential adjustments to Frondell's playing style as he transitions from SHL to NHL are also not yet known. Despite these unknowns, Frondell's early performance suggests a promising start to his NHL career with the Blackhawks.