Latest news with #AntonFrondell
Chicago Tribune
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Who did the Chicago Blackhawks select in the 2025 NHL draft? Here are the latest picks.
The Chicago Blackhawks made three first-round selections Friday in the 2025 NHL draft. The Hawks drafted the top-ranked international player with the No. 3 pick in the NHL draft — Swedish forward Anton Frondell. They also selected Czech winger Vaclav Nestrasil with the No. 25 pick. Shortly after choosing Nestrasil, the Hawks traded with the Carolina Hurricanes to acquire another first-round pick at No. 29. They gave up two second-round picks, Nos. 34 and 62, plus a fifth-round pick in the 2027 draft. They used the No. 29 pick on Mason West. All told, the Hawks have had 11 first-round draft picks over the last four years. Hawks general manager Kyle Davidson said that it hasn't happened by chance — it's intentional. 'The more you pick early … you're more likely to succeed,' Davidson said. 'And so we've taken that philosophy and tried to hit it with volume. 'But I also believe that some of these players are getting to the NHL, some of them are on their path. But from our assessment, an objective assessment, we feel their development so far, we are ahead of the odds in some way — I think we are beating the odds and getting a few more players out of drafts than you know, the odds may dictate.' Blackhawks' 2025 draft picks It all started with a pair of pink figure skates. 'It was the first time I stepped on the ice,' Swedish forward Anton Frondell, 18, said on Friday's ESPN broadcast of the NHL draft. 'Dad just found some pink figure skating skates. I actually skated with them for a year until he (found) out, (and said) 'Oh, Anton, he loves the sport. He wants this.' 'Then he bought me my real first skates. He really wanted me to be a tennis player when I was younger. But I didn't fall for the sport.' NHL Central Scouting regards Frondell as a skilled player with strong legs and a quick stick. '(He) has a nifty wrist shot and his release is solid and accurate. His hockey IQ shines with intelligent moves, with or without the puck. Likes to set up teammates using small moves and tricky passes.' Frondell said he'd like to play in the NHL next season, but it's more likely he'll return to Sweden to play in the men's league. However, Davidson said he'll be able to play in the Hawks' training camp. Davidson said of Frondell, 'He's a really smart hockey player. He uses his body very effectively, especially in battles along the wall. He just has a really projectable game to the NHL.' 'Barkov's probably a few inches taller. … I would say he's probably between a Barkov and an Anton Lundell … he's a big, detail-oriented center with a brain.'—Blackhawks scouting director Mike Doneghey on Anton Frondell and comparisons to Aleksander Barkov — Phil Thompson (@ 2025-06-28T04:16:41.753ZWinger Vaclav Nestrasil is a 6-foot-5, 187-pound native of Praha, Czechia, who produced 19 goals and 23 assists in 61 games for UHSL Muskegon en route to this year's Clark Cup championship. NHL Central Scouting calls the 18-year-old 'a very skilled power forward. Has a nose for the net and when he uses his size, he's tough to handle. (He) possesses a hard shot and quick release, making him a scoring threat every time he enters the offensive zone.' 'You like the physical attributes where (he's a) big, athletic guy that can really move. I think he's got some talent, and some really good hockey sense. And again, a raw package,' Davidson said of Nestrasil. Mason West is a 6-foot-6, 220-pound rising senior at Edina (Minn.) High School. A Division I college football recruit, he has committed to play college hockey at Michigan State — but not until he finishes his final season as a high school quarterback. 'He's behind the curve; he's not quite dedicated himself 100% to hockey,' Davidson said of West, who will turn 18 in August and is one of the youngest players eligible for the 2025 NHL draft. 'But at that size, that athleticism, that skating ability, that talent, the sky is the limit. … I just really wanted to get back into the first round and take what I thought was a Grand Slam hack. I was swinging for the fences and figured, why not?'
Forbes
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Forbes
Islanders Draft Star In Matthew Schaefer, Make Huge Deal With Habs
Matthew Schaefer, center, NY Islanders number one overall pick, Michael Misa, San Jose Sharks number ... More two pick and Anton Frondell, right, Chicago Blackhawks number three pick pose at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by) Generation Next is on its way to the National Hockey League. The New York Islanders, who were the surprise owners of the top selection spot in the NHL Draft by virtue of a victory in the draft lottery, opened the proceedings by calling the name of defenseman Matthew Schaefer. The poised young man will have an excellent chance of opening the season with the Islanders in the fall, but many of the first-round draft picks that followed will need time to develop their respective games in college, juniors or the minor leagues. Center Michael Misa, a noted scorer went second to the San Jose Sharks, and the Chicago Blackhawks took big Swedish forward Anton Frondell third at the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles. Center Caleb Desnoyers went fourth to the Utah Mammoth, who had also moved up in the draft lottery. The Nashville Predators chose physical forward Brady Martin with the fifth pick. The Flyers selected right wing Porter Martone, who has size, good hands and the ability to go to the greasy areas and score. James Hagens had 37 points (11 goals, 26 assists) in 37 games as a freshman with Boston College and he was selected by the Boston Bruins at No. 7. Schaefer is clearly a special player because he was clearly deserving of the top spot in the draft even though the 17-year-old played only 17 games last year. He scored 7 goals and 17 assists in those games before he broke his collarbone. There is no denying his skill. Sam Bennett signs big extension with Cats Sam Bennett of the Florida Panthers got rewarded for his great run during the Stanley Cup playoffs. ... More (Photo by) While the draft was the scheduled highlight of the day, it was not the only notable NHL event. The Florida Panthers, fresh off their second consecutive Stanley Cup, were not about to let star center Sam Bennett sidle off to free agency next week. They signed their aggressive leader to an eight-year, $64 million contract extension after he won the Conn Smythe Trophy for his brilliant performance this spring. Bennett scored 22 points in 23 playoff games, and that came after he tallied 25 goals and 26 points during the regular season. He is clearly a brilliant postseason performer, and the Panthers made sure he stayed in the fold Just as Bennett is staying in Florida, John Taveras is staying with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Taveras was the big prize in free agency in 2018 and the Maple Leafs won his services with a seven-year, $77 million deal at the time. It was widely expected that Taveras would sign with a new team at the start of free agency, but he did not want to leave his hometown team and he signed a team-friendly, four-year deal that averages $4.38 million. Taveras is coming off a 38-goal, 74-point season, and he is exceptional in the face-off circle. He was originally signed to help give the Maple Leafs a legitimate chance to win in the Stanley Cup playoffs, but that never happened. Toronto has not gotten past the second round during the Taveras run north of the border. While the Islanders made their biggest news with the selection of Schaeffer, they also traded star defenseman Noah Dobson to the Montreal Canadiens for two first-round draft picks and forward Emil Heineman. It was a sign-and-trade deal for Dobson and he signed an eight-year, $76 million deal with his new team. The 25-year-old had a breakout season of 70 points in 79 games in 2023-24, but he was held to 39 points and a minus-16 rating last year. The Canadiens are betting that Dobson will return to his best form and help the team become a consistent playoff regular. The Colorado Avalanche traded forwards Charlie Coyle and Miles Wood to the Columbus Blue Jackets, freeing up much-needed salary cap space with free agency beckoning. Columbus general manager Don Waddell explained why the Blue Jackets made the deal. "Charlie is an experienced, two-way player that adds size and versatility to our group, while Miles is one of the fastest skaters in the NHL who provides great energy and physicality," Waddell said. "Beyond being outstanding players, both are high-character people who will fit in perfectly with our group and what we are building here in Columbus." The draft continues Saturday with rounds 2 through 7, starting at 11 a.m. ET. The Saturday coverage of the draft will be seen on the NHL Network. Every round will also stream on ESPN+ and Disney+.
New York Times
11 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Blackhawks add 3 more first-round draft picks to continue playing numbers game
CHICAGO — Kyle Davidson admitted he probably gave up more than the draft analytics suggest when he sent picks 34 and 62 to the Carolina Hurricanes for the No. 29 pick. But while Davidson is an analytically driven general manager, he's playing a far more basic game when it comes to the wild crapshoot that is the NHL draft. Advertisement 'The more you pick early in the NHL draft, you're more likely to succeed,' he said after taking Anton Frondell, Vaclav Nestrasil and Mason West in the first round on Friday night. 'We've taken that philosophy and tried to hit it with volume. But I also believe that some of these players are getting to the NHL. Some of them are on their path. I do believe from an objective assessment (with) their development so far, we are ahead of the odds in some way. I think we are beating the odds and getting a few more players out of the draft than the odds may dictate. Hopefully that continues.' Davidson said he's willing to shrug off the draft analytics and 'stick my neck out and really jump at a guy.' West, a football and hockey standout at Edina High School in Minnesota, was that guy on Friday. As a high-schooler who won't even become a full-time hockey player until after his senior football season, West has a longer runway to the NHL than most. But then again, so did Sam Rinzel in 2022, when Davidson traded back into the first round to take that raw, rangy high-schooler from Minnesota. Director of amateur scouting Mike Doneghey said the Blackhawks had some intel that West might not make it to No. 34, so Davidson pounced. 'I just really wanted to get back into the first round and take what I thought was a grand-slam hack,' Davidson said. 'I'm swinging for the fences and figured, why not? Let's go for a big one here. So that's kind of what I did.' The Blackhawks thought the draft would play out as it did with Matthew Schaefer going first and Michael Misa second. Of course, they heard the same rumors about the San Jose Sharks taking Frondell second as everyone else. Whether that happened or not, the Blackhawks were certain they'd be drafting Frondell or Misa. 'Anton and Michael Misa are elite hockey players,' Doneghey said. 'They're going to be better than top-six forwards on any team, probably top-three forwards. Different players, but we were really comfortable knowing we were going to get one of them. We just kind of sat back.' If you're wondering, Davidson also said he didn't receive any realistic offers for the third pick. The question all along was whether the Blackhawks would seek someone who could step in as a winger beside Connor Bedard or Frank Nazar or they'd draft someone who might replace either one of them at center. Davidson has said he still envisions Bedard and Nazar as centers. So where does that put Frondell? The Blackhawks don't seem too concerned. Advertisement 'Coach can figure that out,' Doneghey said. 'Kyle and Norm (Maciver) give me and my group traits on how they want to build the team and we go and get it. It's a bonus that guys can play multiple positions. (Frondell) doesn't consider himself a center or wing anyway. His comments at the combine, I said, are you a center or wing, and he said, 'Well, whatever Connor (Bedard) doesn't play, I'll play.' He's got a confidence about him.' The assumption is Frondell, the No. 3 overall pick, will spend next season in the Swedish Hockey League at Djugården. But Frondell is holding out hope that he can start his career in Chicago a lot sooner. 'My goal is to play in the league,' he said. 'That's my dream, that's what I'm doing this every day for. If I get the chance to take a spot on the team, I'll do everything I can to do that, to play. If I'm not good enough, if I don't make it, I'll go back to Djugården.' Davidson said there might be some SHL contract details to work out, but he expects Frondell to be able to participate in Blackhawks training camp. Where he goes from there will be up to him. 'I don't think we have any expectation one way or another,' Davidson said. 'The plan as we stand here today is he's playing in Djugården in the SHL next year, but we've got a lot of time to figure out the best path. I think it's a great path if that's the one that occurs. We'll figure that out.' Frondell will be in the NHL sooner rather than later. With Nestrasil and West, the Blackhawks know they're dealing with more long-term projects. The Blackhawks took Nestrasil, a 6-foot-6 forward, after seeing his progression this past year with Muskegon in the USHL. A lot of his production — 19 goals and 23 assists in 61 games — came later in the season. He'll attend the University of Massachusetts as a freshman next season. Advertisement 'He's a cerebral player,' Doneghey said. 'He does have to get stronger, but that will come with maturity. Like he's 6-5, 180-some pounds, it's still all coming together for him. But his brain and his hands, he's got the ability to play up the lineup.' Like a lot of players the Blackhawks have drafted the last few years, Nestrasil's skating jumped out to them. 'We think he has the ability to be a four out of four mover in the NHL,' Doneghey said. 'He just needs the strength.' West is the second dual-sport standout the Blackhawks have taken in the past two drafts, joining AJ Spellacy, who had an excellent training camp and preseason after going in the third round last year. The Blackhawks feel West's potential is so high because he hasn't even fully committed to hockey yet, and won't until after this football season. West will play hockey — and only hockey — at Michigan State starting in 2026-27. 'There's so much there, that when he commits to hockey — you saw that he was one of the highest risers in the rankings once he went to Fargo and started playing hockey more than training for football and stuff like that,' Doneghey said. 'I heard you guys mention AJ. He's a hell of an athlete, but he's just big. You saw him as a quarterback. But he brings that quarterback mentality to the ice, because when he's entering the zone, he's always scanning the zone and what plays to make. He's comfortable with contact. He doesn't shy away from that type of stuff.' West had 27 goals and 22 assists in 31 games for Edina, then had a goal and eight assists in 10 games with Fargo of the USHL. But it's that football mentality that really separates him from the typical first-round pick. 'I think one of the cool things about me is when you see me play, you can really see the quarterback in me,' he said. 'I think I have really good sense and vision. I really don't cheat the game, I play the game the right way. Advertisement 'I really bring that power-forward presence, but I want to be more than that. I want to be a playmaker, and I want to score, I want to hit, I want to be a physical player on the ice. I want to be a unique player in the sense of trying to find it hard to compare guys to me.' (Photo of Jeremy Roenick: Bruce Bennett / Getty Images)
Chicago Tribune
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
New York Islanders choose Erie defenseman Matthew Schaefer with No. 1 pick in NHL draft
LOS ANGELES — The New York Islanders selected defenseman Matthew Schaefer with the No. 1 pick in the NHL draft Friday night. High-scoring forward Michael Misa went second overall to the San Jose Sharks, and the Chicago Blackhawks took Swedish forward Anton Frondell third at the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles. The Islanders maneuvered their way into three picks in the top 17, but they surprised nobody by using their first No. 1 selection since 2009 on the 17-year-old Schaefer. The 6-foot-2 blueliner from Hamilton, Ontario, with exceptional puck-moving ability and strong defensive skills spent the past two seasons with the Ontario Hockey League's Erie Otters. Schaefer scored 22 points while playing in only 17 games last season before breaking his collarbone in December. Schaefer's acumen on both ends of the ice still propelled him to the top of nearly all draft boards. Schaefer is just the fifth defenseman picked No. 1 overall in the NHL draft since 2000, and the first since Owen Power went to Buffalo in 2021. Schaefer persevered through tragedy to reach this milestone. Schaefer's mother, Jennifer, died of cancer 16 months ago, and he also endured the recent deaths of the Otters' owner, Jim Waters, and the mother of his billet family. When Schaefer pulled on his Islanders sweater for the first time on the stage, he kissed a pink ribbon patch on the chest representing breast cancer awareness before breaking into tears. 'I appreciate you taking a chance on me,' Schaefer said in a video conference call with the Islanders' front office. 'I promise I won't disappoint, but especially I just want to say to my mom and all my family and friends, thanks for everything.' The Islanders added the patch specifically for Schaefer, along with his mother's initials. 'Seeing the ribbon on my jersey, and I saw a picture, it has J.S. on my back here,' Schaefer said. 'You can see just how high-class the organization is. It really means a lot. I wish my mom could be here today. Obviously, she's with me here in spirit. … Cancer sucks, and it's not fun. She didn't feel the best, but she was always the happiest in the family. She would do anything for us.' Schaefer got two new teammates when the Islanders used the 16th pick on Swedish forward Victor Eklund and nabbed defenseman Kashawn Aitcheson with the 17th selection. 'I finally have a new favorite NHL team': Chicago Blackhawks select Anton Frondell at No. 3 in the 2025 NHL draftBoth Pennsylvania teams also were busy in Los Angeles. The Philadelphia Flyers grabbed forward Porter Martone sixth overall before trading up for the 12th selection to get forward Jack Nesbitt, while the Pittsburgh Penguins maneuvered up and down the draft to control three picks in the top 24, swinging two trades while drafting forwards Benjamin Kindel, Bill Zonnon and William Horcoff. Misa tore up the OHL last season as the captain of the Saginaw Spirit, scoring 62 goals and 134 points in just 65 games. He joins a struggling Sharks organization that chose Will Smith fourth overall in 2023 and got center Macklin Celebrini with the first overall pick a year ago. 'We just thought it was a perfect fit with what we already have here,' Sharks general manager Mike Grier said. 'Another guy to step in and be a nightmare matchup for people.' Frondell excelled as a 17-year-old forward last season with Djurgården in Sweden's second division, showing off a two-way game that allowed him to push Misa on some draft boards. At 6-2, he could provide a large complement to Connor Bedard. Frondell is the eighth Swedish player to be a top-three selection, joining elite company including Victor Hedman, Mats Sundin and the Sedin twins. Center Caleb Desnoyers went fourth to the Utah Mammoth, who moved up 10 spots in the draft lottery. The Nashville Predators chose physical forward Brady Martin with the fifth pick before trading up for the 21st selection to get Kitchener defenseman Cameron Reid. Martin skipped the draft, staying home on his family farm in Ontario. Fans of the host Los Angeles Kings inside the theater got fired up for their club to make the 24th selection — which the Kings promptly traded to Pittsburgh for the 31st and 59th selections, prompting groans from the crowd. Los Angeles eventually chose defenseman Henry Brzustewicz from the Memorial Cup champion London Knights in general manager Ken Holland's first selection for his new team. The Penguins created the majority of the surprises in the first round, first by choosing Calgary Hitmen center Kindel with the 11th pick — much higher than many prognosticators expected. Pittsburgh then traded the 12th pick, which originally belonged to the New York Rangers, to Philadelphia for the 22nd and 31st picks. The Flyers wanted the 6-foot-4 Nesbitt, a fast-rising center from the OHL's Windsor Spitfires last season. The Penguins also gave a second-round pick to the Kings and swapped first-rounders so they could move up for Horcoff — the son of NHL veteran Shawn Horcoff — with the 24th pick. The Anaheim Ducks took a chance on forward Roger McQueen with the 10th selection. The 6-foot-5 McQueen is widely thought to have enough talent to become an elite center, but the Saskatchewan native has been slowed by a back injury that scared off some teams. Two goalies were chosen in the first round for the first time since 2021 and only the third time in 13 years. Columbus grabbed Russia's Pyotr Andreyanov with the 20th pick, making him the highest-picked European goalie in four years, while San Jose added goalie Joshua Ravensbergen with the 30th selection. The Boston Bruins used the seventh overall pick on Boston College center James Hagens, the consensus top prospect for this draft a year ago. Hagens, a Long Island native coveted by many Islanders fans, slid down the board just enough to reach the Bruins, whose pick was announced by a video of Adam Sandler in character as Happy Gilmore, complete with his signature Bruins jersey. 'I'm so excited to be back in Boston, and to have Adam Sandler make the pick, that was special,' said Hagens, who cites 'Happy Gilmore' as his favorite movie. 'I love to win, and I'm really glad that I'm in Boston.' The Seattle Kraken chose playmaking forward Jake O'Brien eighth overall. The Islanders won the lottery to pick first in a draft that is packed with talent — while missing a few staples of recent drafts. There was no prohibitive lock of a No. 1 pick in this field, unlike the past two drafts — although Schaefer clearly came out on top for most executives. The draft also lacked the centralized structure that has long been a staple of this annual exercise. The 32 teams' various executives are mostly at home, not strewn across the draft floor. The majority of the picks were taken to a video room just behind the stage to exchange televised pleasantries with their new front offices through video conferencing.
Chicago Tribune
16 hours ago
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Chicago Blackhawks select Swedish forward Anton Frondell at No. 3 in the 2025 NHL draft
Life just got a little Swede-r for the Chicago Blackhawks. The Hawks drafted the top-ranked international player with the No. 3 pick in Friday's NHL draft in Swedish forward Anton Frondell, a 17-year-old who, after graduating to Djurgårdens' junior team to Sweden's second division, stood out with 11 goals and 14 assists while competing against men. In 2023-24, at the junior level, he averaged more than a point per game: 39 points (18 and 21 assists) in 29 games. Former NHL scouting executive and SportsNet analyst Jason Bukala said Frondell looked better against the pros than his own peer group. 'Listen, this guy could play the center, he can play the wing, he's arguably the best shooter from the flank on the power play in the entire draft class,' he said. 'He absolutely rips pucks, so I really like Frondell a lot.' NHL Central Scouting regards Frondell as a skilled player with strong legs and a quick stick. '(He) has a nifty wrist shot and his release is solid and accurate. His hockey IQ shines with intelligent moves, with or without the puck. Likes to set up teammates using small moves and tricky passes.' Coincidentally, last week the Hawks acquired former Seattle Kraken forward André Burakovsky, who grew up in Malmö, Sweden. In other Swedish connections, Anders Sörensen, last season's interim head coach, remains on staff as an assistant, and the roster includes Arvid Söderblom. The Hawks also have the No. 25 pick in the first round of the draft. Subsequent rounds will be drafted on Saturday.
