Anton Frondell is pushing himself back up 2025 NHL Draft rankings
This story appeared on hockeysverige.se this week and has been translated from Swedish to English.
Heading into the season, Anton Frondell was widely regarded as a potential top-five pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft.
However, injuries raised doubts about his reliability and caused his draft stock to plummet during the fall, ultimately leaving him off Sweden’s World Junior Championship roster in Ottawa a few weeks back.
As the calendar turned to 2025, Frondell’s fortunes began to shift. The skilled center has stayed healthy and started making his mark while playing against men in HockeyAllsvenskan with Djurgården.
This Monday’s game against top competitors Björklöven might have been the pivotal moment for the 17-year-old. Frondell registered two goals and two assists in the 5–2 victory, playing alongside fellow draft-eligible prospect Victor Eklund. This performance brought his season totals to five goals and 10 points in 19 games while playing against men.
Looking at the history books, only eight U-18 players in HockeyAllsvenskan have scored more goals. The list includes NHL stars like Filip Forsberg, David Pastrnak, and William Nylander.
“In the past few months, I’ve been training hard and playing regularly,” Frondell said. “I’ve honestly forgotten about the injuries for a while now, and it feels like I’m settling into the game and am fully back. The injuries are behind me, and my body is 110 percent now.”
The U-18 season is notoriously challenging for young talents, particularly for top prospects facing immense expectations. Scouts scrutinize every move, and media outlets frequently update draft rankings.
“I don’t think either Victor [Eklund] or I pay much attention to that,” Frondell admitted. “We’re here to train and enjoy playing together. We’re really good friends, and we just push each other to be better.”
Has there been any stress considering the injuries and how the fall played out?
“There hasn’t been any stress to get back because I knew the rehab timeline. I haven’t felt stressed about my season. I knew I’d have time to perform and show what I can do.”
It seems almost certain that Frondell and linemate Eklund will be the top Swedish players selected in the upcoming draft.
“I like it,” Frondell said about the added attention. “Of course, I know there are people watching, and I enjoy playing under pressure. I like having the spotlight on me and performing when it matters.”
Djurgården’s head coach, Robert Kimby, has noticed significant strides in Frondell’s development.
“We feel like he’s becoming more confident with each game, especially in his play without the puck and on the defensive side,” Kimby said. “The offensive skills are natural to him, and it’s easy to forget how young he is. It’s great to see him continue working and taking it one step at a time.”
Kimby also highlighted Frondell’s fearlessness and maturity, noting that his contributions extend far beyond his offensive production.
“First and foremost, everyone wants to score points,” Kimby explained. “But for us, it’s about focusing on what you can control – positioning, physical play – and I think, despite his young age, he’s fearless. He’s the first one into battles, and then there’s a bit of karma; he’s worked patiently through setbacks with injuries. He hasn’t let it stress him, and you can clearly see he’s incredibly skilled.”
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