{"id":538507,"date":"2026-03-22T11:56:14","date_gmt":"2026-03-22T11:56:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/538507\/"},"modified":"2026-03-22T11:56:14","modified_gmt":"2026-03-22T11:56:14","slug":"blackhawks-about-to-get-first-glimpse-of-anton-frondell-whose-nhl-success-could-determine-fate-of-rebuild","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/538507\/","title":{"rendered":"Blackhawks about to get first glimpse of Anton Frondell, whose NHL success could determine fate of rebuild"},"content":{"rendered":"

After the Blackhawks<\/a> drafted Anton Frondell last June, a text from former Hawks forward Marcus Kruger \u2014 Frondell\u2019s mentor and teammate in Sweden \u2014 popped up on his phone.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re going to love it,\u201d Kruger told him about Chicago. \u201cThere\u2019s no better city, no better place.\u201d<\/p>\n

Frondell got a quick taste of that during the Hawks\u2019 development camp in July, taking a boat tour on the Chicago River and playing volleyball on North Avenue Beach along with the other prospects. But now he\u2019s about to become truly immersed in it.<\/p>\n

Sometime this week, during the Hawks\u2019 four-game road trip around New York and Philadelphia, Frondell will likely make his Hawks debut.<\/p>\n

It will be the most anticipated NHL debut by a Hawks prospect since Connor Bedard made his in Pittsburgh in October 2023. And unlike forward prospect Sacha Boisvert, it won\u2019t be delayed by waiting for a U.S. work visa; that was arranged back when Frondell officially signed his NHL entry-level contract last summer.<\/p>\n

Frondell\u2019s first appearance at the United Center will likely be March 30 against the Jets. In all, he should accumulate 10 or so games of experience before another important summer of training begins.<\/p>\n

It will take more than 10 or so games, of course, to determine how good of an NHL player Frondell will be. He\u2019s still raw and ridiculously young \u2014 his 19th birthday isn\u2019t until May 7 \u2014 and fans have heard Hawks general manager Kyle Davidson emphasize repeatedly how much patience development requires.<\/p>\n

Even if Frondell doesn\u2019t make much impact down the stretch this season, he very well could make a big impact in 2026-27 or 2027-28. And even if he excells right off the bat, that doesn\u2019t mean he\u2019ll dominate in 2026-27.<\/p>\n

Just remember how fantastic defensemen Sam Rinzel looked in the final nine games of last season, for example, and how much he struggled during the middle portion of this season. It\u2019s an extremely nonlinear process.<\/p>\n

Nevertheless, Frondell will be placed under a microscope during the next few weeks, as comes with the territory for a No. 3 overall pick<\/a>. <\/p>\n

It also comes with the territory as a top Hawks prospect, considering how pot-committed the Hawks are to these prospects leading them back to contention.<\/p>\n

All of this is becoming reality quickly because Djurgardens, Frondell and Kruger\u2019s Swedish team, lost 3-1 Saturday against Malmo in a do-or-die game in the play-in round of the SHL playoffs. Had Djurgardens won, Frondell\u2019s NHL arrival would\u2019ve been delayed.<\/p>\n

It was still a successful individual season for Frondell, however, in spite of his strangely inconsistent ice time<\/a> with Djurgardens, especially during the first half.<\/p>\n

Anton Frondell is starting to heat up again. Blackhawks have talked to him about using his body\/strength to his advantage and he does exactly that here when protecting the puck: pic.twitter.com\/PWOqqJNggW<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) February 28, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

He scored in 10 of 18 games during the second half to become the first Swedish 18-year-old to reach the 20-goal threshold since Daniel Sedin, later of Canucks fame, did so in 1999. (It\u2019s worth noting Sedin added 21 assists that season whereas Frondell tallied only eight.)<\/p>\n

If Frondell enjoys an NHL career anywhere close to as good as Sedin\u2019s, the Hawks would certainly be thrilled \u2014 even though stylistically Frondell compares more closely to Aleksander Barkov or Anze Kopitar, if one imagines a best-case scenario.<\/p>\n

Frondell also dominated in the world junior championships shortly after Christmas, recording five goals and three assists in eight games and leading Sweden to a gold medal. His wicked one-timer was put on prominent display there.<\/p>\n

Beyond the impressive production, the Hawks were pleased with how well Frondell held up physically and stamina-wise against top-flight pro players.<\/p>\n

\u201cA lot of times with young players, when you\u2019re playing in the top league of whatever country, you can see some drop-off,\u201d Hawks assistant GM Mark Eaton said in February. \u201cBut he still looks strong on his skates…and he\u2019s still playing with a lot of energy. <\/p>\n

\u201cOne thing I notice now versus when I saw him in September…[is] he is starting to realize he\u2019s a strong player. He\u2019s starting to see that when he has the puck down low and he reverse-hits someone, they\u2019re dropping, and it\u2019s buying time for himself. He\u2019s gained confidence, and he has more of a realization that he can play with the big boys.\u201d<\/p>\n

As part of the NHL microscope, Frondell will have some questions to answer (with his play) about how his skills transfer to North American hockey. For instance, can he stay consistently engaged every shift, every period, every game during this intense of a schedule?<\/p>\n

And how much has he addressed some of the purported weaknesses \u2014 acceleration, assertiveness, passing in transition \u2014 he had entering<\/a> the draft? How seamlessly will he fit into the Hawks\u2019 speedy forward group, which creates much of their offense in transition?<\/p>\n

The addition of a 205-pound power forward with an elite shot and finishing touch should make a big impact regardless of his imperfections, though.<\/p>\n

For that reason, the endless debate about Connor Bedard\u2019s linemates is about to change. Coach Jeff Blashill has been stubbornly dedicated to Ryan Greene and Andre Burakovsky in those first-line wing spots for months; one of them should finally get demoted to give Frondell an opportunity.<\/p>\n

As has been the case for three years now, Bedard deserves better players to play with. He has been dynamite this season \u2014 his 1.16 points-per-game average ranks 15th among all NHL forwards \u2014 but he would rank considerably higher if he had another legitimate star (or two) next to him.<\/p>\n

Just Friday, Bedard showed off his improved defensive instincts to intercept a pass and spring Burakovsky on a breakaway, but Avalanche goalie Mackenzie Blackwood made an easy save and Bedard earned zero points for the beautiful play.<\/p>\n

One period later, Bedard set up Teuvo Teravainen with a Grade A chance right in front on a power play, but Teravainen\u2019s shot somehow missed the net and Bedard earned zero points for the clever pass. <\/p>\n

Could Frondell have converted one of those two chances? Possibly. <\/p>\n

It\u2019s worth noting Maple Leafs power forward Matthew Knies, a rumored Hawks trade target, would\u2019ve been even more likely to convert one, and that\u2019s something Davidson needs to keep in mind this summer. But for now, Knies isn\u2019t Hawks property; Frondell is. <\/p>\n

And for Davidson\u2019s rebuild plan to ultimately prove successful, he may not absolutely need Frondell to pan out as a high-end player, but he kind of needs it. Roman Kantserov is the only other forward currently in the pipeline whose potential is comparable.<\/p>\n

So there is, without question, a lot riding on this teenage Swede. Can he deliver? The Hawks will soon begin to find out.<\/p>\n