Anton Frondell - The centre the Montreal Canadiens could use

If the Montreal Canadiens could make a perfect centre for their core going forward, his name would be Anton Frondell.

Frondell, 17, is a centre playing for Djurgårdens IF in the Swedish Hockey Allsvenskan, who played their final regular season recently. The projected top-five pick in the upcoming draft has all of the tools to develop into a fantastic top-six centre. His production in a men's league, at 17 years old speaks for itself.

The truth of it all is that the Canadiens would need to fall off a cliff in order to secure a top-10 pick, and a top-five pick even more so. But the prospect of adding a player of Frondell's ilk, and with the growth potential he possesses would be massive for the Canadiens.

The Habs could draft top five, it's the National Hockey League and things happen fast. Take Juraj Slafkovsky's case, compare his season in two halves, it's a crazy league. Anyway, back to Frondell, the talented young centre player, his first Hockey Allsvenskan playoff game, and he made a great impression on his coaches, and the various NHL scouts in the building.

Frondell recorded, a primary assist, and the game winning goal in overtime.

Frondell was his regular self, doing the things that have hockey heads ranking him at the top of their draft lists. He is a bull; leveraging his strong, lengthy frame to suffocate puck carriers, and strip away pucks. And while he isn't as fast as scouts would like, he has a big hockey brain, that allows him to find holes in the defence, and serves him well away from the puck as well.

Frondell breakdown

With Frondell, the team that drafts him will be getting a physically strong two-way centre, who has tremendous room to grow and mature. The 17-year-old gives me Leo Carlsson, and Mason McTavish vibes, minus the explosive bursts and great footspeed. He is stout and smart, and processes the game at a high level, and his offensive touch is pretty good, too.

The European ice challenges players to skate a North-South game, because the ice is bigger, and there is more space. Frondell uses the space to his advantage, blending great puck skills, and great deception with his eyes and feet to drive hard down the ice. His off-ice game is great, as he finds ways to open himself up for passes because of his great routes.

Check out his goal today from his first career playoff games in the Allsvenskan. Frondell finds the open ice, and he sort of eases into his spot and waits to pounce. On this goal, he waited for a rebound to bounce out, and, like a natural goalscorer, he got down on one knee, and fired a heavy rebound into the open cage.

Frondell is so smart and crafty, but he is also patient, and displays a skill to slow the game down for himself. I see so many qualities of a longtime centre in the six-foot, 196-pound left-shot pivot. The native of Trånsgund, Sweden balances a great offensive toolkit, demonstrating smart playmaking - thanks to his vision, and deceptiveness, which he uses to draw defenders out of position, and then execute accurate passing plays.

His transition game could use some growth, creativity or maybe better linemates, I'm not sure what it is, but that is a definite weakness. But that will be promptly corrected by the development staff of whichever organization drafts him. With improved strength, and quickness, I expect his bull-like forechecks and openness to create speed on the rush will take off.

There are so many things about Frondell that fit into an NHL top-six, and I don't think limiting to second line centre is a smart idea. Sweden has produced another fantastic prospect - like Carlsson, Simon Edvinsson and William Eklund most recently. Frondell, and Eklund's younger brother Victor, look like two top-notch NHL prospects from Sweden, who will improve an NHL club's core soon.

Ivan Demidov and Patrik Laine could use a centre, who is abrasive and plays a great North-South game. I believe that Frondell's ability to slow down the game will serve him well on the rush. He can funnel pucks to the two offensive dynamos, and skate to open ice to open himself up for one-touch shots, or to extend plays.

I have high hopes for Michael Hage, but I think that Frondell might be closer to the NHL at this point. I also don't hate the idea of sliding Hage to the wing. I like Laine, but I'm not sure what is next for, and then you have Demidov on the opposite wing.

Fantastic great line, and if Marty wants to swap pieces around, he has some fantastic potential trios to work with. Hage can move to centre, and Frondell to the wing, then slide Caufield down. Or put Slafkovsky with Frondell down the middle, and throw Hage on the other wing - then Demidov can play with Suzuki and Caufield.

You get the point, and this Swede would be a nice addition to the Canadiens core. I think that Frondell and Heineman could be a fun penalty killing duo down the line. Or even destroy teams together, with their strong forechecking, and backchecking ability.

If possible, this guy would have Kent looking like a crook if he came out of the first round with Anton Frondell.