How is Anton Frondell, the Blackhawks' 3rd overall pick, performing in the SHL?

Frondell has 8 goals and 5 assists in 18 games for Djurgården in the Swedish Hockey League as of November 14, 2025, and has been playing key minutes in the top-six.

Why was Frondell briefly demoted to the 13th forward by Djurgården?

Djurgården's coach Robert Kimby says they wanted to "reset" Frondell and take the spotlight off him after he had a hot start with a highlight-reel goal and a hat trick, as they felt the sudden media attention was a lot for the 18-year-old to handle.

What are the Blackhawks' plans for Frondell this season?

There is a chance Frondell could join the Blackhawks late in the 2025-26 season depending on how Djurgården's playoff run goes, as the team currently sits 4th in the SHL standings.

Home / Sports / Blackhawks Prospect Frondell Shines in Sweden, Navigates Spotlight

Blackhawks Prospect Frondell Shines in Sweden, Navigates Spotlight

14 Nov

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Summary

Blackhawks drafted Frondell 3rd overall in 2025
Frondell demoted to 13th forward, then quickly regained top-six role
Djurgården coach says they wanted to "reset" Frondell to avoid overwhelming him

Blackhawks Prospect Frondell Shines in Sweden, Navigates Spotlight

In the 2025 NHL Draft, the Chicago Blackhawks selected 18-year-old Anton Frondell with the 3rd overall pick, and they are now closely following his progress in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) for Djurgården.

Just two weeks after Frondell scored five goals, including a highlight-reel "Michigan" goal, he was demoted to Djurgården's 13th forward, seeing just 2:42 of ice time in an SHL game. This raised concerns within the Blackhawks organization, but Djurgården's coach, Robert Kimby, has since explained the reasoning behind the decision.

Kimby says they wanted to "reset" Frondell and take the spotlight off him after the young forward had been the talk of the SHL and beyond. The coach felt the sudden media attention and hype was a lot for Frondell to handle, so they pulled him back for one game before quickly reintegrating him into the top-six.