Anton Frondell may very well be the player who causes remorse among clubs that pass on him in the 2025 NHL Draft.
The 18-year-old Swede is the kind of prospect who truly challenges scouting staffs. He possesses exceptional, perhaps even elite, skills but isn`t a sure thing, leaving teams to grapple with how high is too high to take a chance on him. The young center`s potential is clear; Frondell displays raw but impressive abilities, possesses NHL-level size, and has plenty of confidence. However, he has also shown a history of inconsistency in bringing all these tools together effectively.
For teams drafting early in the first round, the pivotal question is whether they believe sufficiently in Frondell`s upside to overlook his quiet stretches and if the flashes of high-end potential he`s shown are enough to warrant a top pick. Some prognosticators believe Frondell will fall to the lower end of the draft`s top 10, while others think he could be selected as high as second overall.
Regardless of where he lands, it feels appropriate that his name will likely be among the first called on Draft day. Just ask those who have competed alongside him on the ice.
“He’s an amazing player,” Viktor Klingsell, who played alongside Frondell at the U-18 World Championship in May, commented at the Draft Combine. “He’s for sure got every tool in his game. He’s got the size, he’s got the puck control, he’s got the off-ice skills.”
Klingsell added confidently, “He’s for sure going to be a star in the NHL one day.”
Player Profile
- Team: Djurgårdens IF
- Position: Centre
- Shoots: Left
- Hometown: Trångsund, Sweden
- Age: 18 (May 7, 2007)
- Height: 6-foot-1
- Weight: 205 pounds
What the Scouts Say
One element of Frondell`s skillset is already clearly separating him from other players in the draft class.
“In my opinion, he is the most elite pure shooter in the draft class,” Jason Bukala, a Sportsnet analyst and former director of amateur scouting, wrote about Frondell in March. “His skill-set, hockey sense, and pace allow coaches to deploy Frondell at the center-ice position or on the wing. He’s already strong enough for the pro game.”
Bukala further described Frondell as an offensive difference-maker and a game-changer who actively desires to possess the puck in crucial moments.
The young pivot`s elite shot is a key reason Bukala believes Frondell could hear his name called as early as No. 2 on draft day, with the long-time scout calling the Swede’s potential as a top-line NHL center or winger “undeniable.”
The main criticism against Frondell, however, is his consistency. While his offensive production in the Swedish league this season was strong (25 points in 29 games for Djurgårdens IF, putting him in line with the production of players like David Pastrnak and William Nylander at a similar age), his performances in international tournaments were less impressive.
Evaluators within the NHL are split. Corey Pronman of The Athletic summarized the divergence: “Depending on who you ask in the NHL, he’s either a future franchise center or a solid middle-six contributor.” Some scouts believe he is worthy of a top-three selection, while others view him placed somewhere between sixth and tenth overall.
Those who lean towards a more positive view of Frondell`s potential see him developing into a Selke-caliber talent – a responsible leader who can also provide elite offense. Others wonder if his career path might resemble that of Elias Pettersson, fluctuating between periods of dominance and disappointment at the NHL level.
Recent mock drafts illustrate this range of projections. In a mock draft from NHL.com earlier this month, both Adam Kimelman and Mike Morreale projected Frondell being selected third overall, likely by Chicago. In mid-May, Sportsnet’s Sam Cosentino projected Frondell going fourth, which would mean he`d join Utah.
How Tennis Helped Develop Frondell`s Net-Front Game
A significant discussion in how to best develop hockey players revolves around whether to focus solely on hockey in early years or branch out into other sports to build transferable skills that can be applied to the ice. Many elite NHL players credit their experiences in sports like baseball or lacrosse as playing key roles in developing their on-ice abilities.
Frondell falls into this category. While the teenager has established himself as a top prospect on the ice and appears poised for a promising NHL career, hockey is not his only athletic pursuit.
“I really love racket sports,” he said at the Draft Combine. “All kinds — tennis, squash, badminton, paddle.” He mentioned his father grew up playing tennis, and his own love for the sport developed from there.
But this affinity for racket sports is more than just an offseason hobby; Frondell believes it has given him an advantage in one particularly important area on the ice.
“Probably hand-eye coordination,” he explained. “I’m good at tipping pucks, and probably that comes from the racket and the ball.”
Frondell Hopes to Emulate a Florida Panthers Star
For a prospect whose ultimate potential is challenging to precisely pinpoint, comparisons to established NHL players hold considerable weight, offering a vision of the finished product a young, raw talent could eventually become.
Scouts and analysts have often projected Frondell`s potential as skewing towards a top-tier two-way center. The 18-year-old himself seems to share this view, confidently naming his NHL comparable when asked at the combine:
“Barkov,” the teenager stated directly, referring to the Florida captain. “Good size, strong, good hockey sense, smart player. Likes to compete. I would say Barkov. I play like him.”
If the young center is correct in his assessment, he would represent a clear home run for the team that ultimately calls his name on Draft day. Over his 12 seasons in the league, Aleksander Barkov has cemented his reputation as one of the game’s finest two-way talents – winning the Selke Trophy three times – while also contributing high-end offensive production.
Crucially, the Panthers captain’s balanced game has been instrumental in leading Florida to three consecutive Stanley Cup Final appearances and two championships. If the young Swede can develop into even half the game-changing player Barkov has become, he would still end up being a significant NHL star.
Frondell mentioned he models his game after the Panthers leader. Fittingly, when asked which NHL record he would most like to hold by the end of his career, Frondell’s response, typical of a Selke hopeful, was:
“Is there a record for most killed penalties?”
Neville Woodall