"3. Chicago Blackhawks: Anton Frondell, C, Djurgårdens IF
I think the Blackhawks’ decision comes down to three names: Misa, Desnoyers and Frondell. They already have a lot of 5-foot-10/11 forwards with speed and skill and I don’t think it makes sense for them to add another one in Hagens. And as much as the Blackhawks fan base anecdotally seems to want Martone for his size-skill-power combination, he doesn’t fit their profile because he doesn’t have the plus-skating piece.
I think Misa’s a best-case scenario for them. He has the skating they prioritize, and he has the skill and smarts to potentially be a running mate for Connor Bedard for the next decade-plus, whether that’s as Bedard’s winger or as a center if they decide Bedard is better suited as a more frequent winger.
If Misa’s gone, Desnoyers and Frondell come into sharper focus for them. Both are 6-foot-1-and-change centers who play the game the right way. A month ago, before a disappointing showing at U18 Worlds for the Swede and an excellent QMJHL playoff run for the Canadian, the consensus favored Frondell more than it does now. I still think Frondell is probably the more likely fit for the Blackhawks, but it’s really close.
Either way, I expect the Blackhawks to call one of those three names on draft day."
(Sorry can't use the quote for the above for some reason).
That's Wheeler's comments about picking Frondell. What I don't get is that using the skating issue against Martone, why is Frondell and Desnoyers not getting the same treatment? They have the same kind of skating.
This draft is so interesting to me, because everyone always preaches BPA forever, and yet all the mocks and all the projections are excluding Hagens because we (or Utah for example in his article) already has enough of those types.
I don't think that's how it works with FOs. BPA is BPA for a reason, although KD was saying that if they're close enough in a bunch at that spot, roster need could come in play.
We will see what happens but if we're going off of the FO's preferred style, none of Martone, Desnoyers, Frondell fit it, and it's actually Hagens, Eklund and McQuenn that are the KD/D types. Especially Eklund, who has the skating, the compete and the shot.