How soon can we expect to see Anton Frondell on the Blackhawks?

Anton Frondell showed the Blackhawks that they made the right choice in taking him third overall in the 2025 NHL entry draft. Even though he tends to be stifled by his SHL coaches at Djurgardens IF, he has 15 points in 25 games. He scored eight points in seven games at the World Juniors to help Sweden win gold (which makes Connor Bedard's 23 in seven games that much more impressive), but he stood out more than those eight points suggest. Some people believe we will see Frondell in the NHL at some point this season, and I am starting to become one of them. The main reason why is that Frondell already signed his NHL contract.

Contractual obligations delay NHL arrivals for top prospects

The main challenge for most top prospects coming from international leagues is the lack of an NHL contract, as well as the contractual obligations they must fulfill. For example, Roman Kansterov is signed to his KHL team until the end of this season, meaning we won't see him this year, even though he is more than ready for the NHL. Evgeny Kuznetsov took four years to make his way over to the Washington Capitals from the KHL. Matvei Michkov originally had his KHL contract run until 2026 before he could play for the Philadelphia Flyers.

Frondell does not face this obstacle, already signing his entry-level deal. The Blackhawks could bring him over from Sweden this week if they wanted to, since they have the player's contract rights. The Blackhawks are known for bringing over prospects after their seasons on their current teams end, as we saw in Ryan Greene and Frank Nazar in recent memory. The Blackhawks brass have proven they are not afraid to burn the first year of entry-level deals with players they have high expectations for.

The kid apparently has a howitzer of a slapshot, has great speed, and size he uses on the forecheck. He also has elite offensive skills, as we saw in the WJC on a seemingly consistent basis. His move to North America could move Connor Bedard to the wing, but also give him more space on the left face-off circle on the power play as Frondell can hold the right side. The smaller ice surface should benefit his game more than the other Blackhawks young guns, given his ability to go north-south, using his speed on the forecheck and forcing the opposition to make decisions with the puck faster.

Anton Frondell could make his debut in early March, which tends to be around the time the Blackhawks bring over their top prospects from outside the system. When that happens, we likely won't see many points, but we will see what he offers the Blackhawks on a nightly basis, and fans will be impressed with his abilities right off the bat.