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New York Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
What could the Blackhawks get in NHL Draft prospect Anton Frondell?
BUFFALO, N.Y. — You may remember Marcus Krüger as the fourth-line center who started predominantly in the defensive zone, handled tough matchups, thrived on the penalty kill and was on two Chicago Blackhawks Stanley Cup teams. Krüger played an important part in those two teams, but he was largely a role player who had very specific duties. However, to Anton Frondell, one of the top prospects in the 2025 NHL Draft, Krüger is so much more than what you remember. To Frondell, Krüger is the ideal mentor. Advertisement 'OK, so he is starting to get older, he has two Stanley Cups, probably good money in the bank — and that doesn't affect his way how he always wants to get better,' Frondell said. 'He's the first guy in the gym. He's the first guy to the rink every day. It doesn't matter how early I am, I can never win over him. And he doesn't just come to the rink. He comes there to get better. It's just cool, a guy like that still wants to get better.' Krüger returned to his hometown club, Djurgården in Sweden, late in his career, driven to lead it to promotion back to the SHL, which he accomplished this past season. Guiding Frondell and Djurgården's other young players wasn't necessarily part of Krüger's plan in coming home to Stockholm, but they came with the package. Krüger hasn't minded going above and beyond, either. 'He's taking care of me,' Frondell said recently while in Buffalo, N.Y., for the NHL Combine. 'He's invited me, like when they're going to concerts in Stockholm or looking at artists in concert. He's really a good guy.' Krüger doesn't shy away from talking about his glory days, either. It's not as if he's walking around the locker room with his Stanley Cup rings on, but he certainly mentions the Blackhawks. And with the Blackhawks having the third pick in the upcoming draft, Frondell can't help but think of following in Krüger's footsteps. 'Of course, you get a little thought about it,' Frondell said. 'You can think about like, wow, playing for the same team that he played in a couple years ago, because he has been talking about the organization, the players, how he thought of his time there.' And it could happen. Krüger sees the possibility. 'That'd be really cool,' Krüger said. 'Without knowing much, I think it'd be a good fit there. A forward that's going to be able to do it all there, and maybe, like in the end, becomes a center. I don't know. But he's going to be a player that can do a little bit of everything and do it really good. So I hope the Hawks get a chance to draft him. He's probably going to be early off the board here.' The Athletic's Corey Pronman and Scott Wheeler don't always completely agree on every prospect, but they're aligned on Frondell, a 6-foot-1, 204-pound forward. They both rank him as the sixth-best prospect in the class. Pronman wrote of Frondell: 'Frondell skates well and competes hard, often outmuscling others bigger than him. Despite his average size, he has a translatable style of play to the NHL that appeals to scouts. Frondell is a good playmaker but he's also a very dangerous shooter with a bullet shot that projects to beat NHL goalies from range. He's not a dynamic offensive player, though, and had a few too many quiet games at the international level this season. He has the potential to be a very good all-around top-six center even if he's often played wing this season.' Advertisement Wheeler wrote: 'He's got pro quality and tools. I've wondered enough times about whether his pace (he can look like he's got big boots out there at times) and whether his playmaking is high-end enough to rank him at the back of Tier 2 though. … Still, Frondell projects as a productive two-way second-line center in the NHL with continued development.' Although Pronman and Wheeler have Frondell ranked sixth, both had the Blackhawks selecting Frondell in their mock drafts. Based on Byron Bader's NHL equivalency model on Hockey Prospecting, Frondell has the highest probability of any player in the 2025 draft class to become a star player. Over the last 10 drafts, Frondell's draft year star probability percentage of 89 ranks behind only Macklin Celebrini (99 percent), Ivan Demidov (99 percent), Connor Bedard (99 percent), Matvei Michkov (99 percent), Jack Hughes (99 percent) and Auston Matthews (99 percent). Frondell ranks ahead of his peers in this model because of his young age (May 2007 birthday) compared to others in the class and because he produced at a high rate in a European pro league. Frondell's 25 points in HockeyAllsvenskan are the most by an under-18 player since William Nylander produced 27 points during the 2013-14 season. I know your ice time varied during Djurgården's playoff run, but what was it like to be part of those games and knowing what was at stake for the club with promotion? Djurgården had obviously been to the final the previous two years and lost. Like you said, this was the third year in a row being in this league. I grew up a Djurgården fan, so I've been in the crowd singing and trying to help the team win. And now being in the team, being a part of the group who's doing it, was really cool. And I don't think I know how big this is. Some people are saying like, this is historic, this is history, this would be a historic team for the club. And maybe that's not what I thought during the play, I was just thinking, 'I love to play hockey and we're going to win this,' not how big it would be. We played AIK in the finals, biggest rival game in the whole Sweden, I don't know, maybe the whole Europe. It's like, AIK and Djurgården hate each other. And being able to show them that we are the king in Stockholm and that they are our little brother was just a cool experience. Advertisement The celebration is usually the fun part. You decided to leave before that and play in the Under-18 World Championship in Texas. What went into that decision? I think I had the best celebration I could get — play hockey. It's what I love to do. I knew before the playoffs, as soon as the last game of the finals are done, I will leave it and play in the morning right after. So I was ready for it, and it was my decision. I had two goals this season, it was to win HockeyAllsvenskan with Djurgården and to win a U18 World gold, which we ended up didn't do. I didn't feel like the season was done because just winning. I wanted to go with Team Sweden, too. There seemed to be a lot of analysis of your play at the U18s. I know it wasn't the tournament you were hoping for, but how would you evaluate your play there? I don't see those (analysis reactions). I'm not looking too much at like articles or anything. But like I'm aware that I didn't play as good as I know I can or should have played. And I don't want to sit here and say like excuses because I felt tired. I didn't feel tired. I felt like my body was fresh and the jet lag was not too bad. So there's no excuses like there. Like the hardest thing about it was … Djurgården's tournament was long, like second-round Game 7s and then right into the final. And my minutes were kind of low at the end. It was like maximum five minutes a game. You're playing against men, important games, following the game plan 100, playing straight, no mistakes. And going from that to the next day playing on a small rink at my own age group and you are projected being the player who should produce and put in points, I think it was hard to do the transition from the first men's league to the U18 so quick and without any training, exhibition games. I think that was the hardest. It was hard to get into it and start producing. You started the season coming off an injury and seemed to get better as the year went along. What did you feel like you learned as a player this season and playing in that league? I think the biggest steps I took this season was to really start playing good at the high level. I was playing with men who were really good and I started producing. I started controlling the puck, holding the puck, being strong in battles. I started winning battles and had like many shots on the net, started producing points. I could run over guys if I had to. It's good for me knowing what I'm capable of even at that high level. That's what I've learned this season. Your coach mentioned he thought you were learning you didn't need to hold back and could be aggressive. Yeah, I'm becoming a little more aggressive. I'm not a player who's searching for hits, searching to kill someone. That's not my style. But if I have to and if I had a good chance and feel like it's the right thing to do, then I'm never afraid to do it, even against 40-year-old men. If you return to Djurgården next season, you'll get a chance to play in the SHL. What would that opportunity mean for you to continue on with the team and test your game at the next level? The SHL, like you said, it's an even higher level. Like right now, I'm trying to prepare myself as much as I can for that league. Like, I have to get stronger, so I'm working on my physicals, I am working on ice in every part — my shot, my skating, my battling. I know it's another level and I need to be better if I want to be a good player at that level. Are there any players you try to model your game after? I think play similar to (Aleksander) Barkov. I would probably say him. … He has a good size like me, strong, good hockey sense. He's smart. He takes care of every zone, like defense and offensive. He works hard, looks like he's competing, really competing. Robert Kimby, Djurgården coach: 'His matureness as a person and as a hockey player, the way he kind of made up his mind to be as good as he possibly can, I think is his biggest strength. … But then on the ice, good vision, for us, an outstanding shot, good enough shot so that we put in him as a shooter in power play. Puck strength, and just the same there, even if he's different as a kid, he wants to be in the heat of the moment. If you look at any player, you see the skill with the stick and everything like that, but for me, it's the small things. He just stands out that he really wants to get better every day when he's on the ice. You kind of almost have to pull him back to save energy sometimes.' Advertisement Marcus Krüger, Djurgården teammate: 'He's like the whole package. He's big. He can skate. He can handle the puck, all that. But also he's really, like, curious, like he asks stuff, he tries stuff. So, yeah, he's not going to play with me for very long here. Soon you're going to get a taste of him there.' Frondell's shot was voted best among the draft class by most of the people Pronman recently talked to for his draft confidential. Another look at his shot: Two things that stand out about Frondell from watching multiple games of this past season are how he can make plays on the move and how he seeks to get to the middle of the ice for his shot. He can speed up and slow down and then position for the most optimal shot. This is an extended look at Frondell over a shift: Frondell has some creativity to his game, too. This is an example of that: This is another example of getting to the middle of the ice: Frondell didn't have an outstanding U18 tournament, but he was still noticeable without the production. The biggest criticism of Frondell was his inconsistent play this season. Kimby thinks Frondell has the potential to alter that. 'I think that he has everything within himself,' Kimby said. 'One of the things for me is to learn to release it night after night. Even if he's young, he's so strong. Sometimes even playing against men, you could almost feel like he didn't bring every muscle or every piece of power that he had. Because even in our league, he got penalties because he ran over guys sometimes. So that's one of the things just for him to get comfortable understanding that, well, this is how good I am, just to dominate. And I'm not saying it's a mental thing because it's not, because he's really strong, but to be comfortable just owning every game.' The Blackhawks have drafted a lot of centers over the last three years. That list includes Bedard, Frank Nazar, Ryan Greene, Oliver Moore, Paul Ludwinski, Martin Misiak, Sacha Boisvert, John Mustard, A.J. Spellacy, Martin Misiak and Aidan Thompson. It's unlikely all of them will make the NHL, and if they do, not all of them will play center. As of now, the Blackhawks seem set with Bedard and Nazar being their top two centers. Greene might be their third. Advertisement Frondell believes he's best at center, but he's also comfortable at wing. 'I would say that in the future I'd see myself as a center,' Frondell said. 'That's what I feel like I'd like to play the most. But in the first half (of the season), I was right winger. Second half of the season, I was left winger. And I feel comfortable playing anywhere. I know what to do on each side.' Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson was asked recently about his abundance of drafted centers and already having Bedard and Nazar in place. 'As we sit here today and looking forward, we do see (Bedard and Nazar) as centermen,' Davidson said. 'Having said that, there is versatility in their skill set, and I believe (that's the case) in a lot of the players we've already drafted and in the player — if you're talking (pick) No. 3's case — that we could draft at that spot. They can play anywhere and help the team. But there's also a change that could occur from game to game, shift to shift or season to season where it gives the coach options. … We'll draft these other players who — I think for the most part — they've all bounced around and played different positions growing up. … We are looking for the best players, and they'll find a way to be effective and determine who's best suited for what positions. So we'll figure that out down the line.' Realistically, the wing is probably where Frondell would project right now with the Blackhawks. His skill set would be ideal on Bedard's or Nazar's line. He'd give the Blackhawks more size, an elite shot and an ability to create off the rush. Frondell will likely play next season in the SHL. He could be ready for the NHL by the 2026-27 season. Until then, he'll have the ideal player to look up to in Krüger.
New York Times
18-03-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Former Blackhawk Marcus Krüger still seeking team success in Sweden hometown
Marcus Krüger won multiple Stanley Cups. He was used as the ultimate matchup center going up against the world's best. He wasn't an offensive player, but he does have one of the biggest goals in Blackhawks franchise history. He was paid well for his role. The NHL and North America were very good to Krüger. He looks back at that stage of his career with gratitude and fondness. It was a special time. Advertisement But so is now. Although he's not playing for as big of a prize (at least on the world's hockey scale), isn't making the same amount of money and isn't facing the same level of talent, the 34-year-old Krüger couldn't be happier than being the captain of his hometown team Djurgården in Stockholm and trying to elevate it out of Sweden's second division. To him, to Djurgården, to Stockholm, this is everything. 'It sounds a little bit silly to say that I care as much about this, but it really is (important),' Krüger said. 'There's a lot of way more important stuff going on in the world, but this is something I can really make a difference in a way. So that's kind of nice. You wake up in the morning and you have some kind of purpose to do a job and do something that could make a difference, at least for hockey in Stockholm.' To understand what Krüger is talking about, you have to understand Sweden's current hockey landscape. Stockholm is by far Sweden's largest city and doesn't have a team in Sweden's top division, the SHL, right now. Its two major hockey teams, Djurgården and AIK, are in the second division, HockeyAllsvenskan. AIK hasn't been in the SHL since 2014 and Djurgården since 2022. 'It means a lot to people in a different way than just like winning,' Krüger said. 'It's like if we can take the step up to the first league, that's going to mean the world for a lot of people here. It's going to mean the world for the people at the front office that get to keep their job. You can hire more people. And for a kid just to like play hockey in Stockholm, Stockholm is like the biggest hockey market in Sweden and we don't have a team in the first league, so that would mean the world for those kids to get to see the best players in Sweden actually to play. 'Yeah, it's meaningful in a different way. It's not like you become world champion, but when I was a kid, this was my dream to play for this team.' Advertisement Krüger's journey back to the club has been a long one. He had last played for Djurgården during the 2010-11 season. He joined the Blackhawks, who had drafted him, at the end of that season and finished the season playing in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. It was start of seven consecutive seasons, including 79 playoff games, with the Blackhawks. Krüger was traded from the Blackhawks to the Vegas Golden Knights in July of 2017 and then was moved to the Carolina Hurricanes a few days later. He spent a majority of the 2017-18 season with the Hurricanes and was traded to Arizona Coyotes in May of 2018. That offseason, he was dealt back to the Blackhawks and spent his final NHL season in Chicago. Krüger enjoyed being back in Chicago, even if the Blackhawks weren't as competitive as they had been, but he also began to sense that his NHL days were coming to an end. 'But already those years were kind of tough playing-wise,' Krüger said. 'Hockey's given me so much. I never want to get sick of it or take it for granted, so I kind of felt already there that I may have to do something different because it started to creep in, this feeling that the passion wasn't there like 100 percent if I just keep going. So during that last year, I kind of felt like, something's gotta happen, I gotta change my mindset a little bit where maybe I want to try something new. 'So I think that step for me was the best at the time. It was kind of hard to leave North America, but I think that's a big reason why I'm still playing and still loving it. Because when I leave the game, I want to have no resentment to it and regret something.' Krüger didn't return home at first. He signed to play with the ZSC Lions in Switzerland, where his love for hockey was sparked again. He enjoyed no longer being a bottom-six center who mostly started in the defensive zone. He had the puck more. He played more. Playing on the larger ice surface in Europe was different, but he enjoyed the mental challenge of playing that way again. Advertisement After three seasons in Switzerland, Krüger decided to return to Sweden and signed with Djurgården before the 2022-23 season. His return was a huge deal. He had accomplished a ton over the decade since he had left the club. Djurgården showed him that respect by making him team captain. Krüger has wanted nothing more than to push Djurgården back to the SHL since returning. He's been close, too: Djurgården was one win away from promotion in 2023. It lost a wild seven-game series with MODO Hockey — four games went to overtime and another ended in a 7-6 score in regulation. 'That was a tough one to swallow, for sure,' Krüger said. 'That's probably why I'm still playing — to get that win.' Krüger and Djurgården had another shot at promotion last season, but were swept by Brynäs in the final series. Now this season, Djurgården is the favorite to be promoted after finishing the regular season with the most points. Krüger likes to still think of himself as the same player as he was with the Blackhawks. He still puts playing the game the right way first and takes pride in his defense. The difference is he has more offensive success now. Although he always sought to score goals in the NHL and there was that brief experiment as Patrick Kane's center, his production was always limited. He scored 38 goals in 520 NHL games. But this season, he's tallied 15 goals in 48 games, which is his highest total in nearly 20 pro seasons. Krüger shrugged off his offensive numbers and credited them to more ice time and power-play opportunity. Just as with the Blackhawks, it's not about the individual statistics for him. His motivation is winning, and that part was nurtured in Chicago. 'It's always fun scoring goals, but what's even more fun is winning and maybe winning a championship,' Krüger said. 'It's more of what I learned being around those leading players, when I play, I try to implement a little bit here. Like playing with Jonathan (Toews), Duncs (Duncan Keith), Seabs (Brent Seabrook), all those guys, how they were in the room and all that — it's more stuff like that I try to implement. My game, the way I play, I play how I play and always have. It's more around the rink, that's where I feel that's helped me a lot.' Advertisement Krüger doesn't reminisce about his Blackhawks days too often. It's not as if he wears his Stanley Cup rings around the locker room to show off. He wasn't sure the last time he had pulled those out. 'Now that you say it, yeah, it's 10 years ago or almost 10 years ago, we won there in Chicago and that's the last time Chicago won a playoff series,' Krüger said. 'It feels like it's going really fast for some reason. It's almost like it melts into one long season. Even I played in North America and like I was playing in Switzerland for three years and now here back again, it feels like it's still going and it's not that often I stop and reflect. You're always chasing the next goal, whatever that is. … When I do, I'm really grateful that I got to experience that early and all the memories and stuff like that, but it's not something I think about daily. It's on to the next thing all the time.' The next thing is the playoffs in Sweden. Djurgården won its first quarterfinal game, a 4-3 overtime victory, on Sunday. Krüger didn't score, but he made his usual impact. He won 20 of 26 faceoffs while playing 19:59. Marcus Krüger remains Marcus Krüger.
