- Anton Frondell says his goal for 2026-27 is getting the Blackhawks back to the playoffs
- Chicago has not qualified since 2020 and opens the season without Connor Bedard
- Read below for what Frondell said about filling in for Bedard and skating with Patrick Kane
Anton Frondell is not easing into his first full NHL season.
The 19-year-old center was asked by Tom Gulitti of NHL.com what he wants out of the year, and his answer had nothing to do with his own point total.
“My goal for this season is to help the team make the playoffs. That’s maybe the first step in our development plan because we’ve missed the playoffs the past couple of years. Then, how far we will go, it’s just up to us.”
Chicago has not played a playoff game since 2020. Alex Vlasic said something similar in August when he called a return a matter of time, so the message is landing across the room.
Frondell spoke at the NHL and NHLPA European Player Media Tour in Munich last month. Chicago posted behind-the-scenes footage of his day on the circuit, green screen and all. Take a look:
There is a complication attached to the playoff talk. Connor Bedard had surgery on his left shoulder on July 8 and was given a four-month timeline, which points to an early-to-mid November return. Opening night is Sept. 29.
That leaves the top-line center job open, and Frondell is one of the candidates to take it. He made clear he would rather not get the chance this way.
“He’s the most important piece on the team, and now he’s injured, so it’s not fun. Everyone feels like it’s a bad thing, so we want him to be back as soon as possible. I think also all the fans will miss him. So I haven’t thought like, ‘Oh, this is good for me.’”
Bedard had already made an impression on him before they ever shared a bench. Frondell said Bedard texted him to say congratulations right after the 2025 draft, then texted again days before he flew over to Chicago last March to tell him to reach out if he needed anything.
In his debut last March, he got the opening faceoff because Bedard waved him into the circle. Watch how that night went:
Patrick Kane came up too. Frondell talked about what it meant to hear that Kane had re-signed with the Blackhawks in July.
“He’s that childhood kind of hero you watched growing up and also the hero in Blackhawks history. Also, for the team, he knows how it is to win and to win in Chicago. I think that’s really important to have someone like that on the team.”
Frondell went No. 3 in the 2025 draft and posted nine points (three goals, six assists) in 12 games after arriving from Djurgardens at the end of last season. His one glaring number is at the dot, where he won 30.2 percent of his draws, and he has spent the summer learning the position.
Chicago is the youngest team in the league. Frondell just put a target on what that group is supposed to do about it this season.
