After weeks and weeks of speculation, back and forth, projections and debates, the Chicago Blackhawks have made their decision, selecting Anton Frondell with the No. 3 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.

For a second there, it felt like the San Jose Sharks might throw a wrench into the top of the draft and select Frondell at No. 2, leaving the Blackhawks with Michael Misa falling into their laps. But when the smoke cleared, it was Frondell left standing for the Blackhawks above the rest of the 2025 Draft Class.

With Matthew Schaeffer and Misa off the board, GM Kyle Davidson goes with the arguable second-best forward in the class.

With the ideal size of a guy who projects to play down the middle when it’s all said and done, at 6’1″ and 200-pounds, Frondell has the offensive upside to contribute in a top-six role, top-line in a pinch, and the two-way projectable skills of a player you envision as a do-it-all centerman in the NHL.

Elite Prospects compares Frondell with the likes of Bo Horvat, Brock Nelson, and Anders Lee, while others have made comparisons as high as two-time Stanley Cup Champion Aleksander Barkov.

Whether he’s going to be the second center behind Connor Bedard long-term in Chicago or plays alongside Bedard as a top-line wing, Frondell plays with the pace that fits those assignments, with the offensive skill and scoring ability to go with the power and defensively responsible style that translates in all three zones of the ice.

While the idea of landing Misa would have been nice, Chicago will be very pleased to have Frondell join their prospect group with an opportunity and likelihood of joining the organization in North America within a calendar year.