Anton Frondell is wasting no time making his mark in Chicago.
After Tuesday night’s win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Blackhawks rookie found himself sitting atop the NHL rookie leaderboard in both points and assists. Frondell picked up two assists in the game, and he spent the night matched up against the Crosby line. His line finished with two goals for and two against.
Frondell came into the 2026-2027 season with plenty of expectation after closing last year with 12 games played, three goals and six assists. This season, he has mostly occupied the second-line center spot and has clicked well with Tyler Bertuzzi and Teuvo Teravainen on the wings.
Through seven games, Frondell has one goal, five assists and six points, which leads the Blackhawks in assists and points.
The numbers have him in the early Calder Trophy conversation, and he’s showing more than just scoring touch. Among rookie skaters, Frondell is leading the way in assists and points, while also ranking first in faceoffs won and second in time on ice among forwards behind fellow Blackhawk Roman Kantserov.
That all-around game was on display against Pittsburgh on Oct. 13, when Frondell won 14 of 23 faceoffs, most of them against Sidney Crosby. His faceoff rate has jumped from 30.2 percent last year to 45.7 percent so far this season, a notable step forward in a short span.
A big reason he’s getting these assignments is trust. Frondell handled a number of defensive-zone draws against the Penguins and has earned a bigger role because of the way he works away from the puck. His forechecking and 200-foot play have stood out, and head coach Jeff Blashill has leaned on him in all situations, including special teams and other high-leverage moments.
That showed up on the Blackhawks’ first goal Monday, when Frondell forced a turnover in the offensive zone and set the puck up for Teravainen’s finish.
On the penalty kill, Frondell is already second among Blackhawks forwards in shorthanded ice time behind Jordan Greenway. Against Pittsburgh, he was a key piece in helping the team get through all four penalties, winning draws, battling along the boards and getting his stick into passing lanes.
"He's got a real good ability to check for offense, and he's still just growing and learning. He's just at the cusp of what he's going to be, and he's still a really young kid, so for him to do that [versus Crosby] is pretty impressive."
Frondell’s start has been steady, but there’s still room for him to expand his impact as the season rolls on. With Connor Bedard, Patrick Kane and Kantserov anchored on the top line, the Blackhawks should keep giving Frondell’s group chances to chip in offensively without always running into the opponent’s best defensive matchups.
If that line can bring more scoring depth, it could help Chicago pick up wins and climb the standings. Frondell has already flashed speed, skill and soft hands, and he and Bertuzzi have already connected on tap-in goals with both acting as primary assist men.
Most of Frondell’s production should continue to come at 5-on-5, since he is currently on the second power-play unit. But if he keeps developing at this pace, the Calder Trophy talk is only going to get louder.
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