‘He has a shot like a missile:’ Why Anton Frondell is receiving so much hype ahead of 2025 NHL Draft

Jun 25, 2025, 10:30 EDT

‘He has a shot like a missile:’ Why Anton Frondell is receiving so much hype ahead of 2025 NHL Draft

Credit: Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff

LOS ANGELES – No matter the order, Matthew Schaefer and Michael Misa aren’t expected to be available after the third overall pick at the 2025 NHL Draft on Friday.

But who else could join them on the draft podium? One name that’s lingering near the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles: Swedish center Anton Frondell.

Ranked No. 5 in Daily Faceoff’s final rankings last week, Frondell had to overcome a slew of injuries over the past two years to cement himself as one of the best players available this year. He did so well, in fact, that when players were polled at the NHL Draft Combine in Buffalo earlier this month who the most difficult player was to battle against, Frondell’s name showed up the most.

“Anton is a tank on ice,” Djurgardens linemate and fellow top-10 prospect Victor Eklund said. “He has a shot like a missile.”

Frondell is coming off one of the most productive seasons by a U-18 player in the second professional Swedish league. Spending the year with Djurgårdens, Frondell had 11 goals and 25 points in 29 games. No other U-18 player had more than one point, and only William Nylander (29 in 35 games) had more in a single Allsvenskan season. It wasn’t a huge sample size, but Frondell was an integral part of Djurgardens’ promotion effort. He had seven points in 16 playoff games to advance to the SHL for 2025-26.

Frondell has another year on his deal with Djurgardens, and spending more time back home might be the absolute best for his development. He didn’t play as much as other top prospects this year, so getting consistent ice time while having an improved role in one of the top leagues in the world could do wonders for his overall play.

Publicly, there’s little consistency in Frondell’s ranking. Some love his intelligence, his shot and his two-way play. Others are worried that he lacks the explosiveness to be a truly game-changing forward. But when the most common comparable that gets thrown around is two-time Stanley Cup champion Aleksander Barkov, you know you’re doing something right.

“He has every tool in his game,” fellow Swede Viktor Klingsell said. “Anton has size. He’s got puck control. He’s got the off-ice skills. He goes around the hotel playing floorball and is juggling. He’s such a crazy guy. He’s going to be a star in the NHL.”

Frondell is considered by many to be one of the best power forwards in this class. At 6-foot-1 and more than 200 pounds, Frondell plays with a ton of muscle, knocking over anyone who gets in his way. That makes him especially useful when battling for possession along the boards, but he also has one of the hardest, most deadly shots in the entire draft class. Seriously – few players can launch shots like he can.

“He shoots so hard and the shot is precise,” 2025 NHL Draft goaltender Mans Goos said. “He hides it well. He’s so skilled all around.”

When Frondell doesn’t have the puck, he’s finding ways to get himself into scoring position. He does an excellent job of getting himself into scoring lanes, especially on the right side. Frondell is fine as a playmaker, but you’d much rather have him firing shots on net.

That being said, Frondell lacks the skills necessary to be a legit play-driver. That makes some scouts wonder if that’ll typecast him as more of a complementary piece inside the top six. But as a two-way force, few players can change the course of play better than Frondell. He’s so physically mature already, and that’s only going to improve as he gets older and more refined.

Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar headline the Chicago Blackhawks’ center depth. But both are on the smaller side, which is why many have pegged Frondell – who has experience at both center and the wing – to go to the Windy City. The rumors linking the Swede to Chicago haven’t been quiet, that’s for sure.

San Jose has also been linked to Frondell, but it feels like they’d be stretching to pass on Misa, assuming the New York Islanders take Schaefer.

If Frondell is still on the board after No. 3, though, any team would be silly not to consider the big center. Is he going to wow you with jaw-dropping skill? No. Is he going to work harder than just about everyone else? Absolutely. Not many publications have Frondell as a top-three prospect, but he’s absolutely in the conversation.

NHL teams value translatable skills over raw skill and numbers, and Frondell has so much to offer – just like Barkov did when he shot up draft boards in 2013.

Tune in for The Sheet Draft Special, streaming live on the Daily Faceoff YouTube channel on Friday, June 27th at 7 PM EST. Hosted by Jeff Marek, this live special will cover all the action from the 2025 Draft, including expert analysis of top prospects, team-by-team breakdowns, and real-time reactions to every pick. Whether you’re tracking your team’s future stars or just love the drama of draft night, this is your go-to destination for all things Draft.

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