The NHL's Instagram page put out their predictions for the first round of the 2025 draft based on where teams are selecting at this time. This includes predicting who the Chicago Blackhawks will draft with their third overall selection and their 25th overall pick.
The Blackhawks definitely don't need anymore defensemen, so it isn't a bad year to not win the draft lottery as Matthew Schaefer is expected to go first overall. At third, the Blackhawks are projected to take Anton Frondell from Djurgardens IF of SWE-1. As a centerman, this could help solve their problems down the middle for the future and give the team options.
At 25th, the NHL predicts that the Blackhawks will draft another forward, this time Malcolm Spence from the Erie Otters. He is a left wing, so it would give Chicago another option up front and create even more organizational depth at forward. Not every one of their high rated forward prospects are going to turn out, but with many of the defensemen already starting to show their potential in the NHL, the forwards need to follow suit.
Frondell played 3/4 of this season in Sweden's top league, scoring 11 goals and recording 25 points in 29 games. He had five goals and seven points for Djurgardens Jr. as well. As for Spence, he played with projected second overall pick Michael Misa and Spence put up 32 goals and 73 points in 65 games this season. It would be great if Chicago were to get Misa and Spence though, but that would likely require them to move up to draft second overall, which they have tried and not been successful at thus far.
