2025 Top prospect Anton Frondell has been a model of consistency

If the Montreal Canadiens want to ensure the future of their centre core remains strong and armoured, then drafting Anton Frondell would reinforce that.

Frondell is a horse, and having a guy that brings the tangibles, talent and hardnosed as a nice package into a six foot, 196 pound frame. He is a natural centre, who is heavy on his stick in the faceoff dot, and strong for a 17-year-old. Stylistically he has drawn a comparison to Peter Forsberg, a fellow Swede, and likely role model for Frondell, who is young enough to be his grandson.

I have also heard Gabriel Landeskog, a glue guy who plays the game at a high level, and has the gritty, sandpaper style that a team needs in the thick of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Frondell has some pretty big shoulder pads to fill, if he wishes to live up to the ilk of Swedish countrymen Landeskog and the legendary Swede, Foppa.

But instead of just talking about the comparisons, let's dive into what makes Frondell such an intriguing draft prospect, who will be off the board early in June. The Swede has terrorized the Hockey Allsvenskan, alongside fellow Swede, and 2025 draft top prospect Victor Eklund for Djurgårdens IF. In 29 Hockey Allsvenskan games, Frondell has recorded 11-14-25 as a 17-year-old centre.

The need for great centres is massive throughout the NHL, the great teams have them, and the ones trying to get there want them. Montreal has Nick Suzuki, Kirby Dach, Alex Newhook, Owen Beck, Jake Evans and Christian Dvorak. While Michael Hage and Oliver Kapanen are coming through the wings, but if Frondell is the best player available, you happily draft him, and let him develop.

I have an inkling that he will be that top European guy that always seems to find their way into the top 10 of the NHL Draft every year. Frondell, while Eklund will be in the mix, is most likely to be that guy. Last year it was Artyom Levshunov, Ivan Demidov and Anton Silayev, and the year before Leo Carlsson, David Reinbacher, Matvei Michkov and Dalibor Dvorsky.

Frondell is the guy who I feel most confident in projecting as a top 10 pick, perhaps even top five.

Anton Frondell, the top Swede 2025 draft prospect

Frondell is a left shot centre, who plays a heavy, mature game, which fits the bill for a 17-year-old playing centre in the Hockey Allsvenskan. He is aggressive on the forecheck, disrupting with his great defensive stick, powered by his high motor to challenge opponents. Frondell also plants himself well on top of the opposing crease, creating havoc in front of the goaltender, and his hand eye coordination drives a great offensive toolkit.

A heavy centre, who has tremendous puck skill and a high level skating ability, Frondell is smart, and tenacious - a combination that screams NHL top six centre. When you add all of his elements together, and consider that he has NHL size already, you have a very good prospect. His shot has a game-breaking component, in that his release is tremendously heavy.

The details in Frondell's game are going to make the team that drafts him fall in love. He is a two-way centre in every sense, and I think that his playmaking ability, especially his short passing game is impressive. Because of the larger ice, it is much easier to work the give-and-go, so that might translate less in the NHL, unless the decision making keeps up to NHL speed, which all signs indicate they will.

I'm a big fan of drafting European players, and the Canadiens have historically had plenty of success drafting players from overseas. Saku Koivu is a Habs legend, Artturi Lehkonen is another guy, and more recently, David Reinbacher. I wouldn't count Frondell out as a legitimate option for the Canadiens on draft night.