Anton Frondell to make Blackhawks debut next to Connor Bedard: 'He can handle it'
Chicago Sun-Times • • sports
Key Points:
- Blackhawks rookie Anton Frondell, 18, is set to make his NHL debut Tuesday against the Islanders after finishing his season in Sweden and joining the team last Monday.
- Coach Jeff Blashill immediately placed Frondell on the first line alongside Connor Bedard and Ryan Greene, also assigning him to the top power-play unit, signaling high confidence in his abilities despite his rookie status.
- Sacha Boisvert, another recent addition to the Hawks, finally received his U.S. work visa and is expected to debut later in the team's four-game road trip, likely against the Flyers on Thursday.
- Andre Burakovsky, after a slow start with only two points in 26 games, was moved from the top six to a lower line to help provide depth scoring, as per Coach Blashill's decision.
- Frondell reflected on his growth in the Swedish top league, noting the increased physicality and how winning gold at the World Junior Championships boosted his confidence and performance in the latter half of the season.
