Earlier this week I shared how the guys at The Athletic ranked their top ten Calder Trophy candidates heading into the 2026-27 season. On Wednesday, Steven Ellis offered his top ten list at Daily Faceoff. Ellis, however, did not rank them 1-10. He just listed his top picks, which is fine. And Blackhawks rookie forwards Anton Frondell and Roman Kantserov both made his list as well.
Here’s what he wrote about what Frondell could mean for the Blackhawks:
With Connor Bedard sidelined to start the season, Frondell is positioned to shoulder a heavier workload right out of the gate. Fortunately, many scouts believe Frondell has the maturity to handle the spotlight. While teams often preach patience with top picks, fast-tracking Frondell simply made sense. He spent his draft year dominating his own age group and proving his mettle in Sweden’s second-tier pro league. Frondell may not have posted explosive numbers in the SHL, but anyone watching closely saw a player who dictated the pace of a shift like few others, and his power-play expertise is fascinating. After a promising start in his early NHL appearances, Frondell is ready to prove himself on the big stage.
And here’s what Ellis wrote about Kantserov:
After one of the most impressive seasons by a European-based prospect, Kantserov is ready for the big show. The 21-year-old had 36 goals and 64 points in 63 games this past year, leading the KHL in goals. The 2024 Gagarin Cup champ was downright dangerous every time he hit the ice, and, despite being a smaller forward at 5-foot-9, he’s absolutely fearless. I know the KHL isn’t as strong as it was pre-2022, but Kantserov’s season was the most productive by a U-22 forward in league history. That has to excite Blackhawks fans, and I fully expect him to play a top-six role right out of the gate.
Top 10 Calder Trophy candidates you need to know for 2026-27 t.co/VOSh7H5Det
— Daily Faceoff (@DailyFaceoff) September 2, 2026Blackhawks Impact Rookies
We’ve talked about the Blackhawks’ youth movement a lot here over the past few years, but there are really three young forwards who are expected to step into the lineup full-time for the first time this season: Kantserov, Frondell and Nick Lardis.
Last season, Lardis scored ten goals in 41 appearances. He skated largely in a supporting role, but saw most of his 5-on-5 ice time come with Connor Bedard. Bedard’s injury could open a door for Lardis to start the regular season in the Blackhawks’ top six, but the additions of Kantserov and starting a season with Frondell likely means he’ll be a secondary scoring weapon for Chicago. Still, he could approach 20 goals this season.
Improved depth up front should give the Blackhawks three lines that can produce more offense this season — something we haven’t seen during Bedard’s three seasons in the NHL. Add Ryan Greene, who led Blackhawks rookies last year with 12 goals (again, skating primarily with Bedard), and Chicago could have multiple players on each of their top three lines in the 15-20 goal range.
A key for the Blackhawks to really close the gap between where they’ve finished the past few years and the playoff race will be health and improved defensive play. The addition of Bowen Byram on the back end and to the top power play unit gives Chicago another threat to get the puck to the net frequently. But overall improvement from the defense and continued excellence from Spencer Knight in net are huge.
If Kantserov and Frondell can establish themselves as legitimate Calder Trophy candidates, the entire Blackhawks offense will take a significant step up — and, hopefully, help the Hawks close the gap on the playoff teams in the Western Conference.
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