The NHL Combine in Buffalo last weekend did not do much to clear up the draft order of the 2025 draft in Los Angeles later this month.
Aside from the New York Islanderslikely selecting defenseman Matthew Schaefer with the first pick, top prospects, such as Michael Misa, Porter Martone, Caleb Desnoyers and James Hagens could all go anywhere from second to sixth overall, but the name shooting up the draft board in recent weeks has been Swedish center Anton Frondell.
The 18-year-old scored nearly 25 points in 29 games in the second-level Allsvenskan last season and enjoyed much of his success with fellow 2025 draft prospect Victor Eklund. The younger brother of San Jose Sharks left winger William Eklund hounded Djurgarden coach Robert Kimby to put the two friends together on the same line.
“It’s been pretty easy to play with Anton,” Eklund said on Friday. “We didn’t get to do it in the start of the season, but then we had to tell the coach that we needed to play (together), and I think we did pretty well. I just knew from the beginning that if we get the opportunity, we’ll be the best (duo). We did pretty good, and the coach probably got sick of me asking, so they finally put us together.”
When most of the Swedish prospects were asked to name the best player in this draft class they faced this season, they said the 6-foot-1, 205-pound Frondell, who compares his game to Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov.
“We actually played against each other when we were young, and he played for Farjestad, Eklund said. “I remember playing him, and he actually made a move on me, like the puck between my legs. I just can’t forget that. He says he doesn’t remember that (to which Frondell later said he did). We’ve played against each other, but we really got to know each other when both of us started and played for Djurgarden.”
Eklund is an exciting prospect in his own right, known for his speed, energy, and offensive creativity, and he is expected to go in the top 10. The 5-foot-11, 170-pound forward had 19 goals in 42 games this season and scored six points for Sweden in the 2025 world juniors.
“I don’t think I’ve played with a player with so much energy,” Frondell said about Eklund. “He wins every battle, even when we play against men… It’s just easy for me to find the open spot.”
Both players indicated that they intend to return to Sweden next season and play for Djurgarden, which earned a promotion from Allsvenskan to the Swedish League, and are looking forward to playing together for at least one more season before going their separate ways in North America.
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