LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JUNE 29: A general view of the dome of the Sphere during the NHL Draft at Sphere on June 29, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – With the NHL Draft less than two weeks away, the biggest overlying question surrounding the league’s newest franchise is very simple. Who will the Utah Mammoth pick at 4? Following combine week, let’s take a look at potential prospects. Next up, Anton Frondell.
Frondell is an 18-year-old center from Trångsund, Sweden.
Playing for Djurgårdens IF since 2021 in Sweden’s J18 League, Frondell quickly impressed the organization and proceeded to make his senior-level debut at just 16-years-old in the second-tier HockeyAllsvenskan during the 2023–24 campaign.
Frondell then excelled with 25 points (11G, 14A) in 29 regular season games last season. He also added seven more points (3G, 4A) in 16 playoff matchups.
Internationally, Frondell captained Sweden to a bronze medal at the 2023 World U-17 Hockey Challenge.
He also led Sweden to a first-place finish over the United States at the Under-18 Five Nations Tournament in 2024.
Appearing on most mock drafts as a consensus top 10 selection, Frondell is a powerful and highly skilled center with a wicked shot, great vision, good hands and a very complete 200-foot-game.
Boasting one of the best shots in this year’s draft, Frondell’s release is simply nasty.
Whether he’s blasting a fierce one-timer, sniping the goaltender from a distance or on the breakaway, Frondell is an absolute nightmare when he decides to put one on net.
Two minutes of Anton Frondell’s (#2025NHLDraft) best offensive moments from this season.
Blistering one-timers from the half wall, angle-changing releases from mid-range, strong off-puck instincts around the slot, creative finishing solutions from close range. pic.twitter.com/Psm7A0x29X
— Lassi Alanen (@lassialanen) June 5, 2025
As for the rest of his offensive skillset, the young center thrives in the tight spaces, is crafty in one-on-one situations and remarkably harsh on the forecheck as he intimidates opposing skaters with his physicality.
Additionally, his zone entries are also very effective as he bursts across the blue line, swiftly navigates traffic and quickly becomes dangerous with or without the puck.
In terms of his defensive game, Frondell is reliable in his own zone as he tracks the puck well, continues to assert himself physically and creates turnovers.
The biggest concern surrounding Frondell is his apparent inconsistency.
From his inability to earn meaningful minutes with Djurgården’s top team to his production struggles at the international level and failing to make Sweden’s 2025 World Junior team, Frondell has been known to experience fairly hot and cold streaks.
Notably, Frondell’s skating is also nothing to write home about, specifically his first few steps.
With Michael Misa and Matthew Schaefer expected to be locks for the first and second overall picks, the new few selections are very much up in the air.
Collectively, very few mock drafts are consistent when it comes to picks three through seven and Frondell seems to be a player that could find himself at any of those numbers.
So, does he potentially make sense for Utah at No. 4?
Maybe. Maybe not.
What Frondell has going for him is his scoring, physical play and a relentless motor.
However, if players like Porter Martone and Caleb Desnoyers are still available when Utah is on the clock, their styles, size, physicality and consistency seem a bit more appealing than Frondell.
Still, the Swedish center is a very good player and should be considered among those that Utah could end up drafting.
Following the conclusion of the Utah Mammoth’s inaugural season, the next notable event will be the NHL Draft on June 27 and 28.
After recently drawing the fourth overall draft pick in the 2025 NHL draft, each of Utah’s upcoming draft selections will be dressed in the new Utah Mammoth home sweater.
Full story: Utah Hockey Club Draws No. 4 Overall Pick In 2025 NHL Draft Lottery
