The development plan for Blackhawks prospect Anton Frondell’s upcoming season in Sweden

Anton Frondell got caught up in the moment.

He had just been selected by the Chicago Blackhawks as the third overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. All of a sudden, the NHL was much closer than it ever had been.

So, when he was asked after being drafted how quickly he could be in the NHL, his emotions drove his answer.

“When I was in Chicago and had some media there, I said, like, if I can take a spot on the team, I will try to do that, maybe a little cocky answer,” Frondell said recently.

He quickly regretted it.

“In my head, I thought, oops, what did I say?” the 18-year-old Frondell said. “I know I have so much still to learn and improve. It’s not like stress or rush for me. I feel like I want to be prepared and better when I kind of take the step.”

For this season, he decided that means playing again for Djurgården in Sweden. He helped Djurgården to promotion last season during his draft year and now will look to play a key role as it competes in the SHL. He and Victor Eklund, a New York Islanders’ 2025 first-round pick, are expected to play together on a top-nine line for Djurgården.

After signing an entry-level contract with the Blackhawks in July, Frondell was invited to their rookie camp, which began on Wednesday, and next week’s NHL training camp. But he declined, thinking he could benefit from continuously being with Djurgården at the beginning of the season. He missed time early last season due to an injury, and he also felt last season lacked continuity because of all of the draft-year obligations. Djurgården’s season opener is Saturday.

The Blackhawks were originally hopeful to have Frondell in for training camp, but general manager Kyle Davidson said he didn’t have an issue with Frondell wanting to play this season in Sweden.

“I think a lot of it just goes back to what’s in the player’s best interest, and our organizational philosophy is that development is best served when we take the direction of the player in many cases,” Davidson said. “If they’re comfortable in a situation and we feel it is a good situation, then I think that’s where they should be. When they own their own development, they’re going to get much more out of it. They’re going to feel like they’re part of that process rather than trying to wedge something in that maybe doesn’t fit at this point in time.

“Not that being in North America wouldn’t be good for him, but he’s in a good organization, in a really good league, in good situation. That was what him and the people around him that help him make decisions were most comfortable with. It was kind of two good situations and let him select the one that was best for him, and I think it was a good decision, so we support it.”

Davidson doesn’t expect Frondell to play more than this season in Sweden. Frondell could even end up in North America playing for the Blackhawks or Rockford IceHogs by the end of this season.

Those are discussions for the spring, though. For now, Davidson just wants Frondell to focus on playing for Djurgården in the SHL and likely Sweden in the World Junior Championship and developing his game.

The Blackhawks drafted Frondell at No. 3 because they envision him being an elite two-way forward. He has size at 6-foot-1 and 205 pounds, produced at a high rate as a 17-year-old in HockeyAllsvenskan and has shown good defensive instincts. The Blackhawks are hopeful with him playing in a better league this season and against higher level competition, which includes former NHL players and current NHL prospects, that his game will continue to evolve.

“I think for any 18-year-old, it’s probably just experience and just keep playing, getting solid minutes in a couple different situations,” Davidson said. “My understanding is he’s going to be pushed to maybe try and create a little more offensively, and that’s exciting because I think the two-way side of his game is quite good for his age.”

Frondell returned to Sweden after the Blackhawks development camp in July and picked up his training. He said he focused on shooting, skating, strength and endurance as he prepared for a jump in competition level this season.

Frondell had already seen that work pay off in preseason play. He also better understands how to play against older, stronger players and utilize his frame.

“If I use my body the right way, it’s creating, like it’s getting easier for me on the ice,” Frondell said. “I’ve been playing now for a year with men, against men. And I’m a big guy, I’m strong and if I can use it in the right way, then I do it.”

Frondell said he’s at about the same weight as he ended last season, but he has heard from a few people how he appears to be bigger out on the ice. He thinks it’s because he’s no longer wearing a cage on his helmet and people can see his face.

“Some people think I look older (with the visor),” he said with a laugh.

While some 18-year-olds are ecstatic to be done with the cage, Frondell discovered not having it does present new issues.

“You’re just easier to get like stuff up in your face now,” he said. “It happens too often. It’s always like in a game, high stick or a puck up in the face in practice too. I’ve been lucky, but my teammates have gone through some hard hits up in the faces. With the cages, you know, I didn’t have to think about it at all.”

There isn’t much change for Frondell otherwise with spending another season in Sweden. He continues to live at home with his family. His family and friends will be able to watch his games in person. He’s teammates again with his best friend, Eklund, and Marcus Krüger, who as team captain has helped Frondell on and off the ice.

Frondell is also excited to be there when Djurgården makes it return to the SHL. He grew up a Djurgården supporter, endured its demotion while in its system and then got to be a part of its promotion as a player. Djurgården rejoining the SHL was significant for the club and city of Stockholm. Ultimately, it’s why the NHL can wait a year. For now, it’s about Frondell developing and doing his best for Djurgården.

Frondell could only imagine what the home opener would be like on Saturday.

“I’m sure it will be crazy,” Frondell said. “I think the tickets for the game sold out in a couple of minutes. I think that the fans too are really glad that we’re back. They have been supporting us for three tough years in the second division, and now we’re back, so I think we made them proud this year. Now we’ll show them that we are here to win.”

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