The Chicago Blackhawks didn’t draft Anton Frondell third overall in the 2025 NHL Draft to be just another promising name in the pipeline. They brought him in hoping he’d grow into a star. After only 12 NHL games, there’s already reason to think they may be watching that happen in real time.
Frondell’s first taste of the league came last season when his SHL club, Djurgårdens IF, loaned him to Chicago. The Blackhawks tried him at wing and at center, and they even put him on a line with Connor Bedard. In those 12 games, Frondell produced three goals and six assists for nine points, while also getting work on the top power-play unit and scoring twice with the man advantage.
The early reviews from inside the organization were strong. Head coach Jeff Blashill didn’t hide how much he liked what he saw, saying, "If you get to a point where you have a guy like Anton who looks like a player similar to Jonathan Toews, go out and play against the other team's best."
That kind of comparison carries weight in Chicago. For fans who spent more than a decade watching Jonathan Toews at the United Center, it’s a pretty encouraging sign to hear Frondell mentioned in that same breath.
Blashill also pointed to the ripple effect Frondell can have on the rest of the lineup, saying, "That's a great asset to have as an organization."
That’s the other part of Frondell’s appeal: he isn’t just a scorer. The Blackhawks viewed him as a strong two-way forward when they drafted him, and he’s already shown why.
He can contribute offensively, but he also handles defensive responsibility and can take on a shutdown role. That kind of game fits the Toews comparison, and it’s the sort of profile that made Toews a Selke Trophy winner.
During his time with Chicago in 2025-26, Frondell posted 13 blocked shots, another sign of how willing he is to get involved without the puck. His positioning has been a strength too, and Blashill has made it clear the team values him as a 200-foot player.
What happens next may come down to where the Blackhawks deploy him full-time. He saw time on Bedard’s wing and also worked as a center on another line. Frondell summed up that flexibility last season with a simple line: "Whatever Connor [Bedard] doesn't play, I'll play,".
That could leave Chicago with a real option. Frondell alongside Bedard might open up another layer of offense. At the same time, his all-around game could make center the better fit going forward.
There’s also the matter of size, and Frondell brings that too. Listed at 6'1, 200 pounds, he gives the Blackhawks a more physical presence and a player who can handle the NHL’s heavier side without backing away from it. He plays hard, but smart, and he isn’t the type to pile up penalty minutes.
That matters for a Chicago team that, according to Elite Prospects, is tied for 30th in average height across the NHL and tied for last in average weight. Frondell gives them some much-needed bulk, and if he ends up next to Bedard, he can help absorb some of the physical attention that comes with playing beside a smaller forward.
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