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And while Blashill stopped short of saying that Frondell would
skate with third-year star center Connor Bedard, the No. 1 pick
in the 2023 draft, the coach said the 6-foot-2, 200-pound
forward would “be with a good player, for sure.”
The Blackhawks signed Frondell to a three-year, entry-level
contract last summer, then lent him to Djurgardens of the
Swedish Hockey League, the country's top league.
In 43 games as an SHL rookie, Frondell became the fourth
18-year-old to score 20 goals in the league and the first since
Daniel Sedin in 1998-99. After helping Sweden win the goal medal
at the world junior championships in January, Frondell finished
strong with Djurgardens, scoring in 10 of 18 regular-season
games before his team was eliminated Saturday in a first-round
playoff series.
The Blackhawks play at the New York Islanders, Philadelphia
Flyers, New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils on a four-game
trip that opens Tuesday.
Blashill said he'd know more about Frondell's exact debut date
on Monday.
“We're just working through flights, stuff like that,” Blashill
said. “I know he wants to get here. We want to get him here.”
Once Frondell arrives, he should get ample ice time for
rebuilding, last-place Chicago, which is 26-31-13 and in 30th
place overall in the 32-team NHL.
“Probably in his situation, based on the level of play he's had
all year, how well he's played the last part of the year ... I'm
a 'gonna throw him into the fire' kind of coach,” Blashill said.
Forward Sacha Boisvert, one of Chicago's three first-round picks
in 2024, also is expected to join the team shortly, after
signing a three-year contract last week. The 20-year-old from
Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, is awaiting immigration clearance after
concluding his season with Boston University.
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