The Chicago Blackhawks made three first-round selections Friday in the 2025 NHL draft.
The Hawks drafted the top-ranked international player with the No. 3 pick in the NHL draft — Swedish forward Anton Frondell. They also selected Czech winger Vaclav Nestrasil with the No. 25 pick.
Shortly after choosing Nestrasil, the Hawks traded with the Carolina Hurricanes to acquire another first-round pick at No. 29. They gave up two second-round picks, Nos. 34 and 62, plus a fifth-round pick in the 2027 draft. They used the No. 29 pick on Mason West.
All told, the Hawks have had 11 first-round draft picks over the last four years.
Hawks general manager Kyle Davidson said that it hasn’t happened by chance — it’s intentional.
“The more you pick early … you’re more likely to succeed,” Davidson said. “And so we’ve taken that philosophy and tried to hit it with volume.
“But I also believe that some of these players are getting to the NHL, some of them are on their path. But from our assessment, an objective assessment, we feel their development so far, we are ahead of the odds in some way — I think we are beating the odds and getting a few more players out of drafts than you know, the odds may dictate.”
Blackhawks’ 2025 draft picks
- No. 3 (first round): Forward Anton Frondell
- No. 25 (first): Winger Vaclav Nestrasil
- No. 29 (first): Forward Mason West
- No. 66 (third):
- No. 98 (fourth):
- No. 107 (fourth):
- No. 162 (sixth):
- No. 194 (seventh):
- No. 197 (seventh):
No. 3: Forward Anton Frondell
It all started with a pair of pink figure skates.
“It was the first time I stepped on the ice,” Swedish forward Anton Frondell, 18, said on Friday’s ESPN broadcast of the NHL draft. “Dad just found some pink figure skating skates. I actually skated with them for a year until he (found) out, (and said) ‘Oh, Anton, he loves the sport. He wants this.’
“Then he bought me my real first skates. He really wanted me to be a tennis player when I was younger. But I didn’t fall for the sport.”
NHL Central Scouting regards Frondell as a skilled player with strong legs and a quick stick.
“(He) has a nifty wrist shot and his release is solid and accurate. His hockey IQ shines with intelligent moves, with or without the puck. Likes to set up teammates using small moves and tricky passes.”
Frondell said he’d like to play in the NHL next season, but it’s more likely he’ll return to Sweden to play in the men’s league. However, Davidson said he’ll be able to play in the Hawks’ training camp.
Davidson said of Frondell, “He’s a really smart hockey player. He uses his body very effectively, especially in battles along the wall. He just has a really projectable game to the NHL.”
“Barkov’s probably a few inches taller. … I would say he’s probably between a Barkov and an Anton Lundell … he’s a big, detail-oriented center with a brain.”—Blackhawks scouting director Mike Doneghey on Anton Frondell and comparisons to Aleksander Barkov
— Phil Thompson (@philthompsontrib.bsky.social) 2025-06-28T04:16:41.753Z
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No. 25: Winger Vaclav Nestrasil
Winger Vaclav Nestrasil is a 6-foot-5, 187-pound native of Praha, Czechia, who produced 19 goals and 23 assists in 61 games for UHSL Muskegon en route to this year’s Clark Cup championship.
NHL Central Scouting calls the 18-year-old “a very skilled power forward. Has a nose for the net and when he uses his size, he’s tough to handle. (He) possesses a hard shot and quick release, making him a scoring threat every time he enters the offensive zone.”
“You like the physical attributes where (he’s a) big, athletic guy that can really move. I think he’s got some talent, and some really good hockey sense. And again, a raw package,” Davidson said of Nestrasil.
No. 29: Forward Mason West
Mason West is a 6-foot-6, 220-pound rising senior at Edina (Minn.) High School. A Division I college football recruit, he has committed to play college hockey at Michigan State — but not until he finishes his final season as a high school quarterback.
“He’s behind the curve; he’s not quite dedicated himself 100% to hockey,” Davidson said of West, who will turn 18 in August and is one of the youngest players eligible for the 2025 NHL draft.
“But at that size, that athleticism, that skating ability, that talent, the sky is the limit. … I just really wanted to get back into the first round and take what I thought was a Grand Slam hack. I was swinging for the fences and figured, why not?”