The Chicago Blackhawks set the tone in the 2025 NHL draft early. They wanted to swing big, literally and figuratively. GM Kyle Davidson aimed to take some big hacks in the 1st round on prospects with significant upside. It started with the #3 overall pick. Rather than opt for a safer selection, the Blackhawks went with Anton Frondell. While some question the Swedish forward's consistency, he has the best shot in the entire class. That is before you get into the fact that he might also be the best two-way player.
He is so dependable that many have begun comparing him to none other than Aleksander Barkov. The two-time All-Star and two-time Stanley Cup champion is considered the best defensive forward in the game. His presence in Florida has been crucial to their dominance. Craig Button of TSN laid out why Fondell is such a mirror image.
"Now, 'Sasha' Barkov is elite," Button said. "Style of game, type of player; I'm not going to tell you he's 'Sasha' Barkov, but that's the type of game that Anton plays. He's just what I would call a complete, two-way player. He can play heavy, he can play skilled, he can play fast, he can play defense, he can play offense. Much like Barkov, Barkov's never going to be a 100-point player, but he's an incredibly valuable player."
It feels like Chicago hasn't really had anybody like that during the course of their rebuild. His presence in the lineup could be a game-changer
If Anton Frondell is like Barkov, the Blackhawks just got scary.
The best description is a "pillar player." These are guys who do everything right. They make everybody around them better. Jonathan Toews, Duncan Keith, and Marian Hossa were all that way during the Cup runs in the 2010s. Anton Frondell also has the tools and the competitive spirit to fit that mold. He certainly doesn't lack for confidence. He believes in his capability as a player. It doesn't hurt that he has dreamed of playing for the Blackhawks since childhood. Pairing him with Connor Bedard is beyond exciting. Everything depends on who Chicago wants playing center. Frondell said, to his credit, that he'll play whichever spot Bedard doesn't want to. That is another example of what they're talking about.
