Blackhawks recall prospect Anton Frondell ahead of NHL debut

A talented young prospect is set to step onto the NHL ice for the first time.

The Chicago Blackhawks have recalled forward Anton Frondell from Djurgårdens IF of the Swedish Hockey League, with many expecting him to make his big-league debut on Tuesday night when the team takes on the New York Islanders.

Frondell was taken by the Blackhawks with the third-overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. It came after an impressive first “full” season with Djurgårdens, while the team was in HockeyAllsvenskan, the second-best pro league in Sweden. He scored 11 goals and 25 points in 29 regular-season games before adding 7 points in 16 postseason contests to help the team win the league championship and earn promotion to the SHL. The Trångsund native was named the HockeyAllsvenskan Rookie of the Year.

This season, Frondell was a solid presence in the Djurgårdens’ return to the SHL. He scored 20 goals and 28 points in 43 games, leading all junior skaters in goals while finishing fourth on the team in scoring. He also added two points in three playoff games, as Djurgårdens was eliminated by the Malmö Redhawks in the opening round.

In 81 games with the club over the past three seasons, Frondell has notched 31 goals and 23 assists for 54 points.

The 18-year-old’s strengths come from his ability to create scoring chances when he has the puck and is willing to get to the net, not afraid of being physical in dangerous scoring areas. He also has a pretty good shot, which made him a dangerous player in both the junior and pro ranks in his native country.

Frondell has been a key part of Sweden’s national teams over the past few years. He helped Tre Kronor win bronze at the 2023 Under-17 World Hockey Challenge, as well as the silver medal at the 2024 World Junior A Challenge and 2025 IIHF Under-18 Men’s World Championship. He played a key role in helping the Swedes win gold at the IIHF World Junior Championship this past January and was named a top-three player on his team after scoring five goals and eight points in the tournament.

Puck drop between the Isles and Blackhawks is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.