Victor Eklund, Anton Frondell bring long-term friendship to 2025 NHL Draft
BUFFALO – Victor Eklund and Anton Frondell go a long way back.
The pair grew up playing against each other in their native Sweden before eventually linking up in Djurgårdens as teenagers. Frondell, in particular, made quite the impression on Eklund.
“I remember playing him (as kids) and he made a move on me,” Eklund told reporters Friday at the NHL Draft Combine in Buffalo. “It was between my legs and I just can’t forget that. He says he doesn’t remember that but I kind of knew he was good.”
“I actually do remember that move,” Frondell responded to a room of laughter. “It was really good.”
The two forwards have spent the past few years together with Djurgårdens, the most successful team in Swedish hockey history. So it’s only fitting that they’re two of the top European prospects for the 2025 NHL Draft, with both expected to go in the top 10 in Los Angeles later this month.
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.
“Anton is a tank on ice,” Eklund said. “He has a shot like a missile.”
If any prospect needed a big year, it was Frondell. Injuries plagued his Draft-1 season, and he missed plenty of time early on this year, too. Suddenly, Frondell, who many expected to be a top three prospect this year, saw himself falling down public draft boards. But many still believed in the centerman, who is still expected to be taken around the top five.
Frondell had a hectic end to the season. After winning the Allsvenskan title, he jetted off to Texas to help Sweden take home a silver medal at the U-18 World Championship. He had a few weeks to relax before heading back to Buffalo for the combine.
“This whole week here has been a really cool, cool experience,” Frondell said. “I also feel like my English has been getting a little better (with) every interview that I have done. It’s a cool experience, you have a lot of things to do.”
Eklund, meanwhile, is one of the top wingers this year. Eklund was the only draft-eligible prospect in the Allsvenskan to register 30 points (he was born late in 2006, and thus doesn’t have U-18 designation like Frondell). He was one of two, including Frondell, to register more than seven. Eklund’s output is the third best by a draft-eligible prospect in league history, behind Elias Pettersson (41 points in 2016-17) and Alexander Wennberg (32 in 2012-13).
“Victor is easy to play with. He plays with so much energy,” Frondell said. “He wins every battle, even when we play against men. Victor wins all the puck battles, and it’s easy for me to find an open spot.”
The duo’s playstyles complement each other exceptionally well. Eklund is a speedy winger who never stops moving and loves getting the puck into scoring positions. Frondell, meanwhile, has one of the best shots in the draft and uses his power forward nature to win battles. The two youngsters grew up together playing in Djurgårdens’ pipeline, but it took a while for Eklund to convince coach Robert Kimby to let them play together. Eklund claims he had to beg 10 times to get them paired up.
“We played really good together. I just knew from the beginning that if we get the opportunity, we’d be great linemates,” Eklund said. “I think we did pretty good. Our coach probably got sick of me asking, so he finally put us together.”
Eklund said he likes watching Philadelphia Flyers forward Travis Konecny, who blends skill and physicality to win puck battles. Frondell, meanwhile, follows Florida Panthers forward Aleksander Barkov closely, citing his all-around, two-way game.
Both Eklund and Frondell said they plan to return to Djurgardens in their trip back up to the SHL for the 2024-25 season. Many scouts think both could realistically be in the NHL come 2026-27. But by staying back home, they’ll both have a chance to chase gold at the World Juniors and get a taste of increased competition in the SHL without getting rushed too quickly.
The two buddies have spent significant time learning the ropes of pro hockey and handling the pressures of performing under pressure. Once the NHL Draft Combine comes to a close, they’ll get a few weeks to relax before the draft heads to Los Angeles at the end of the month.
Friends now, enemies later. In the meantime, they’ll keep soaking in the draft experience.
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