Blackhawks top prospect's first comments should be music to fans' ears

The Chicago Blackhawks' selection of Anton Frondell with the 3rd overall pick might have been the most likely outcome, but Frondell is already giving fans reasons for excitement.

At 6-1, Anton Frondell brings a little bit more size to the Chicago Blackhawks organization. A prospect with a high-end two-way game, Frondell is someone the Blackhawks organization needs. Someone capable of defending a lead and helping to take the Hawks to the next stage of their rebuild.

While the expectation was that Frondell was a year away from the NHL, the young prospect is already raising some eyebrows.

Anton Frondell is already giving Blackhawks fans something to get excited about.

Speaking with the media after his selection, Frondell said he wants to compete for a spot with the Blackhawks next season.

"If I get the chance to take a spot on the team, I will do everything I can to do that, to play," Frondell said via Charlie Roumeliotis of WGN. "And if I'm not good enough, if I don't make it, I'm going back to Djurgardens."

Last season, Frondell registered 25 points in 29 games with Djurgarden in the Allsvenskan. No matter where he was drafted, it seemed likely Frondell would return to Sweden for this upcoming season, but the fact that he wants to compete for a spot in Chicago is a good thing.

The youth movement is now in Chicago. With so many young players set to step in, there is no doubt Frondell could very well earn a spot in Chicago and fit in with this group. The fact he came out and said he wants to play in Chicago says a lot about the young man's competitiveness.

For all the Blackhawks fans out there that have been forced to watch the Florida Panthers and Aleksander Barkov win back-to-back Stanley Cups, Frondell—who has been compared to Barkov—gave fans something to get ready for.

Frondell also said the opportunity to play with Connor Bedard would "be really cool," and that he has followed Bedard since before his draft in 2023. The Blackhawks could be getting their next Toews and Kane with Frondell and Bedard.