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What are the Blackhawks getting in No. 3 overall pick Anton Frondell?

An exploration into every angle of Chicago’s top pick from the 2025 draft.

Posted on by Soft Serve Scouting
Source: Djurgårdens IF (Elvira Holmström)

The selection of Anton Frondell at No. 3 overall in the 2025 NHL Draft marked another pivotal moment in the Blackhawks’ rebuild, and another year of drafting for traits over upfront talent. Frondell has a high-end physical profile, and his selection is a testament to the Blackhawks’ commitment to building a well-rounded team, one that prioritizes defense and responsible two-way play over all else. With a superb shot, elite physicality at a young age, and a commitment to playing both ways, the Blackhawks drafted a forward who is arguably one of the best complimentary players in the last few drafts.

Background

  • Position: Center/Wing
  • Age: 18 (May 7, 2007)‌‌
  • Hometown: Trångsund, SWE
  • Height: 6-foot-1
  • Weight: 205 pounds‌‌
  • Shoots: Left
  • Team: Djurgårdens IF (HockeyAllsvenskan)
  • Production: 25 points (11 G, 14 A) in 29 regular season games, 7 points (3 G, 4 A) in 16 playoff games

Frondell was profiled and his background was covered during our pre-draft coverage, so start off by checking out that article first!

Top of the Draft: Introducing Anton Frondell

Skills Breakdown

Frondell is a physically mature, two-way center with a lethal shot and strong off-puck instincts. He brings reliability, a scoring touch and pro-ready habits, although patience will be key as he continues to refine his transition game and offensive creativity.

Frondell’s play style is first and foremost a physical game, one that modern NHL teams value very highly. He may be a fairly average 6-foot-1 in height but, when he’s on the ice, he looks and plays so much bigger thanks to a wide frame and bulky 205-pound body that was described as a “tank on the ice” by close friend Victor Eklund, an Islanders first-rounder. This physical presence translates directly into Frondell’s on-ice effectiveness, and his approach to the physical aspects of hockey sets him apart from many skilled forwards. When he has the room and trajectory to line up a hit, he’ll crunch opposing players into the glass. Frondell’s forecheck is relentless: he applies pressure consistently, forcing opponents into mistakes in the offensive zone. His stoutness makes him very hard to move, whether that’s when he’s holding pucks or staking his claim to space around the net.

This willingness to engage physically while also maintaining skill-based contributions creates a valuable combination for NHL teams. Frondell’s technical skill with the puck allows him to create turnovers for himself and teammates, while his physical strength enables him to protect possession in traffic and along the boards.

Frondell overall has average skating, but there is some concern about his current limitations, which will need to improve for him to make a positive graduation to professional hockey in North America. He has a fluid, powerful skating stride that allows him to reach a solid straight-line speed, but he’s not particularly fast off of the jump and is relatively slow when he needs to change direction. The Athletic‘s Scott Wheeler said it “can look like [Frondell’s] got big boots out there at times.” The acceleration deficit becomes problematic in transition situations when Frondell must react quickly to turnovers or vertical ice plays — the time required to reach his top speed can create vulnerabilities that opposing teams will inevitably exploit. This concern is amplified when considering the increased pace and smaller ice surface of NHL hockey compared to European leagues, as he currently relies on the wide space of European ice in nearly every aspect of his game. The smaller rinks could be a rude awakening if he doesn’t make necessary adjustments.

His skating is best when in the offensive zone: Frondell has demonstrated above average edge control and can make quick cuts, allowing him to evade pressure and shift effectively across the ice. As mentioned above, this in-zone movement combined with his strong puck protection skills makes him a threat for power moves towards the net and along the walls.

However, his play in transition is another story sometimes. Frondell’s agility on the rush is more limited, and he can often find himself a bit behind the play (or at least compared to his speedy linemate Victor Eklund). Again, he can float and maneuver well in tight spaces, which is always key for power-forward types, but the questionable lateral ability when rushing can get him burned. Frondell will need to work on improving his first two or three steps to help generate more power if he wants to reach his projected ceiling in the NHL, as the professional game demands quick transitions and explosive starts. More positive development to his skating ability will also allow him to create separation from defenders in offensive situations and to stay with quicker forwards in defensive coverage.

In terms of offensive skills, the most appealing part of Frondell’s game is his goal-scoring ability, in which he demonstrates both variety and effectiveness. Frondell is a multi-faceted scorer with above-average hands who makes significant contributions in various offensive situations. His ability to find the net through different methods — whether through deflections, rebounds, or clean shooting opportunities — provides NHL teams with versatility in their offensive approach. While Frondell may occasionally take himself away from the play in order to find an opening to shoot, it’s hard to deny how effective it’s been, especially when it’s come in a pro league. Frondell is especially adept at combining his physicality and power to create shooting opportunities, and Elite Prospects‘ Director of EU Scouting Lanni Alanen called that ability “arguably Frondell’s defining skill as a prospect”:

“There are very few, if any, prospects in this year’s class who not only possess a nose for the net as good as Frondell does, but also have the physical capabilities to force their will around the net-front area. Whether he crashes the net from the boards or is already there, his timing and ability to spin away from checks and win body position when it matters is second-to-none. When required, he also drops away from coverage to find opportunities higher in the slot area.”

Of his varied arsenal of shot type from distance, Frondell’s one-timer is quite impressive and considered one of the most lethal in his draft class thanks to his raw power and excellent accuracy. What sets him apart is the economy of motion: he doesn’t need a lengthy wind-up to unleash a blistering release, making him especially dangerous from the circle and a major weapon on the power play. Frondell could stand to be more creative in generating his own chances, but that’s basically nit-picking — his shooting ability is already pro-quality.

In-zone playmaking is more of a mixed bag for Frondell. He has shown he can have above average puck skills, especially in congested zones, and has shown flashes of tight control that allows him to slow down or accelerate play. That sounds great, but the issue is that he doesn’t do it enough and isn’t consistently effective when he does attempt passes. Basically, Frondell just isn’t making high-end passes or setting his teammates up for goals at a rate you would expect from a top-six potential NHL player. This is a major reason many evaluators consider him a complimentary player: he’ll often float into space away from the play to look for a scoring opportunity, but he’s unlikely to set up his teammates in the same way, which will restrict his ceiling in the NHL. In the HockeyAllsvenskan, his game too often relied heavily on a teammate to make the passes and create the space for Frondell to take advantage.

Perhaps the biggest area of concern for Frondell’s passing is in transition, where he was honestly a liability. Per Scouching, he missed over 80% of his passes in transition, which is staggering. The transition game represents another area where playmaking limitations become apparent. Modern NHL forwards are expected to contribute significantly to breakout plays and transition offense, using their vision and passing ability to quickly move the puck from defensive to offensive zones, but he was often the third option on his own line in Sweden. He would benefit from gaining more confidence in carrying and passing the puck through the neutral zone, as there are times when he opts for a conservative dump-in over available high-percentage plays, even when under minimal pressure. Frondell put up a lot of points last year, but he’ll need to add more variety to how he contributes offensively, especially in transition, to be more effective at higher levels of professional hockey.

Frondell can play in the NHL now as an opportunistic goal scorer, but he’ll want to expand on the flashes of creativity in terms of passing, take greater initiative through the neutral zone, and showing more dynamism when space and time are limited. The key to unlocking his full offensive potential will be Frondell finding the right balance between his natural goal-scoring instincts and timely distribution. Dan Haurin with Smaht Scouting summarized this well:

“He isn’t the most dynamic offensive talent, which leads to some questions as to whether or not he’ll be able to drive play on his line at the NHL level … [But] His ability to successfully pressure and retrieve pucks on the forecheck at a high-end level, his best-in-the-class ability to maintain puck possession on the cycle in the offensive zone, and consistently high motor to make up plays are all skillsets that should allow him to help make already great top of the lineup players even better.”

The two-way elements of Frondell’s game represent what might be his most NHL-ready attributes. Frondell can play a mature style of hockey at both ends of the ice and is arguably better in the defensive zone than he is in the offensive zone. He rarely cheats on defensive assignments, is willing to engage off of the boards and, in the defensive zone, is willing to put his understanding of positioning and smart puck protection above trying to score points. Frondell’s puck-handling abilities, particularly when it comes to protection, provide the foundation for his offensive contributions. His technical skill with the puck allows him to distribute the puck well in the defensive zone, while his physical strength enables him to protect possession in traffic and along the boards.

Frondell’s work ethic and compete level represent intangible qualities that often determine long-term NHL success. His willingness to engage in the less glamorous aspects of hockey — forechecking, backchecking, board battles, and net-front presence — suggests a player who understands the complete requirements of professional hockey. He’s also often touted as a “team-first” type of player who has potential leadership qualities in the locker room.

How high in an NHL line-up Frondell is able to achieve will depend on the refinement of his current foundation, as Ethan Lindley with Dobber Prospects points out succinctly:

“Frondell certainly has the tools to be at the very least a responsible middle-six center, but if his combination of power and finesse continue to develop, he could evolve into a team’s leading goal scorer with a strong physical game to compliment his skill.”

Conclusion

The biggest long-term question with Frondell centers on his offensive ceiling and ability to consistently deliver dynamic, game-changing impact. While technically sound, his approach to offense is often too straightforward, lacking the flair or creativity seen in higher-ceiling prospects. He currently projects more as a reliable middle-six forward than a true offensive driver — closer to Anton Lundell than even Aleksander Barkov — but that could absolutely change with improvements in areas mentioned above. Regardless, Frondell has a strong foundation which can be built upon, embodying the modern NHL prototype of a forward who is capable of contributing offensively while maintaining defensive responsibility and physical presence.

Having already secured an offensive dynamo in Connor Bedard, the Blackhawks were looking to continue building their forward core with players who could complement their existing core, rather than add another high-end driver. Frondell’s two-way capabilities and physical style of play provide the type of supportive skill set that successful NHL teams are looking for throughout their lineup, especially with the recent success of the Florida Panthers, a team that enshrines depth throughout the lineup and gritty skills.

Frondell is expected to play this upcoming season with Djurgårdens in the SHL, after he helped to promote them from the second tier Hockey Allsvensken the prior season. Remaining in Sweden offers Frondell a valuable chance to take on a more prominent role and continue refining his game in a competitive, development-focused environment.

Scouting Reports

Frondell had quite the campaign. He finished with one of the most productive seasons by a U-18 player in Allsvenskan history – the second-tier Swedish league – despite missing time with injuries. Frondell has experience down the middle and on the wing, which makes him intriguing. Frondell has a fantastic shot release and he’s getting even better at attacking pucks, too. I wish he’d dominate shifts more consistently, but he’s still one of the best players every time he hits the ice. I’m not too worried about that moving forward, though – he had to make up for lost time by prioritizing scoring lanes. There’s a reason his teammates and peers consider him to be one of the most difficult players to play against, too: he’s got that dog in him. Frondell is as good of a power forward as you’ll find in this class, and he has so many translatable skills.

— Steven Ellis, Daily Faceoff

Anton Frondell, a 18-year-old hockey prospect, is recognized for his pro-style body and mature gameplay, positioning him as a potential NHL talent. Despite skepticism regarding his long-term possession skills, his off-puck play, versatility, and physicality are highly praised. His elite one-timer, comparable to top-end NHL scorers, and his performance in the SHL, a competitive secondary league, draw comparisons to players like Jesper Bratt and Philip Forsberg. Frondell’s willingness to engage in tough areas of the ice and his ability to blend finesse with physicality highlight his promising future in professional hockey.

— Shane Malloy, Hockey Prospect Radio

After dealing with fluky and unfortunate injuries that bled into the start of this season, Frondell was finally able to show exactly what he’s capable of this season at Sweden’s second level. Although he only played 29 games in the Allsvenskan, he put up 25 points. On a per-game basis, only Elias Pettersson had a higher scoring rate in their draft year.  Frondell plays a pro-style game already. He forechecks hard, gets to the net and always seems to be on the right side of the puck in board battles. His shot is a legitimate weapon from all over the ice, and his passing is efficient in all three zones. He’s developing into a very steady 200-foot forward as well. Frondell’s biggest question is about just how high in the lineup he winds up. If the injuries over the last couple of years impact his development, he may wind up as a solid middle-six winger. If he can stay healthy and stay on the path that we saw him on at the end of the regular season, Frondell has a chance to be a very good second-line center. 

— Tony Ferrari, The Hockey News

A player I’ve been up and down on all season long, I think I’ve settled on a solid foundation on what Frondell is. He’s the best option this year for a player who can play with just about anyone anywhere in a lineup and get the job done. Physical, fluid, smart, Frondell thrives when the game is chaotic. He battles for pucks along the boards well, makes plays quickly, fills empty space constantly, and while his analytical picture was not good, it was much better when his role was somewhat more restricted. I mean that in a positive way, to be clear. If you’re expecting a top-6 centre who will carry you to Stanley Cups and win trophies along the way, I’m not sure that’s Frondell, but as a guy who plays on the wing with those players, I could absolutely see. A capable centre you could stick down your lineup in a checking F3 role with a green light to shoot, sure. On the other hand, a flexible, powerful and physical winger who plays heavy with an offensive twist that can work off faster, more skilled and dynamic high end talent, that’s an Anton Frondell I can see playing a lot of minutes one day in the NHL. Development can change that, but based on what he’s shown this season, I’ve come to really respect the flexibility and projectability of his game, even if he may have more mixed results than most when zooming out to the big picture.

— Will Scouch, Scouching

Disclaimer: L_B_R also deserves credit as an author for the writing and editing this article!

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