CHICAGO, Ill. (WTVO/WQRF) — The Blackhawks loaded up on more prospects in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft Friday night. They selected three players, three forwards all with good size.
Their first pick was the third overall. The Blackhawks selected 6’1 forward Anton Frondell of Sweden. The 18-year-old scored 25 points (11G, 14A) in 29 regular season games last season while playing with Djurgardens IF.
Scouts have called him a powerful, physical, two-way forward who has a commanding presence.
With their second first-round pick (#25 overall) the Blackhawks chose 6’6 forward Vaclav Nestrasil of Praha, Czechia. Nestrasil is 18 years old. Last season in 61 regular season games with the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the USHL he accounted for 42 points (19G, 2#A) in 61 regular season games.
His older brother Andrej was selected in the 2009 NHL Draft by the Red Wings in the third round. Nestrasil has committed to the University of Massachusetts for the 2025-26 season.
The Blackhawks added a third-first round pick, number 29 overall in a trade with the Carolina Hurricanes. They used the pick on 6’6 center Mason West of Edina, Minnesota. West is 17. Last season with Edina High School he had 49 points (27G) in 31 games. He also played in ten games with the Fargo Force of the USHL. He scored nine points (1G, 8A).
West was also a standout quarterback in high school at Edina. He is currently committed to Michigan State.
NOTE: In the trade with Carolina, the Blackhawks gave up the 34th and 62nd picks in this year’s draft along with a fifth-round pick in 2027.
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