Blackhawks Cut Frondell Ice Time as Roster Search Continues

The Chicago Blackhawks reduced rookie Anton Frondell’s playing time to a career-low 11 minutes 44 seconds during a loss in Detroit on Thursday. The 19-year-old Swedish center has not recorded a point in six consecutive games, a streak that coincides with a drop in his overall performance metrics. Coach Jeff Blashill acknowledged after the game that he may not have given Frondell enough opportunities to escape a slump, noting that the player did not compete hard enough in the contest.

Frondell has been assigned to center ice with veteran Tyler Bertuzzi at left wing since the start of training camp. This pairing produced strong results early in the season, but its effectiveness has declined. Blashill has described Frondell’s performance as subpar in three of the last five games. In those three contests, Frondell played less than 14 minutes 10 seconds per game. The coach characterized the season so far as a 10 to 3 ratio of good to bad games for the rookie, but the recent trend is downward.

The Blackhawks canceled practice on Friday. Consequently, the lineup for Saturday’s game against the Boston Bruins will not be announced until warmups. General Manager Kyle Davidson faces decisions on how to adjust the roster after a discouraging stretch of play. Trade rumors are circulating, but the market is limited this early in the season. Coach Blashill’s position appears stable for now despite fan frustration, making internal roster changes the most immediate option.

Blashill has experimented with various line combinations, including a unit with Frank Nazar, Patrick Kane, and Oliver Moore. None of these changes have produced a lasting impact yet. The team’s systems have remained unchanged from last season. A potential window to make structural changes opens from November 8 to 11, when the schedule provides a break in the nine-game stretch over 16 days.

One possible adjustment involves moving Frondell to the wing. The forward has not been part of Blashill’s recent line blending experiments. The spot opposite Roman Kantserov on Connor Bedard’s line has been occupied by Kane, Ryan Greene, and Teuvo Teravainen without success. Placing Frondell there could allow him to play a complementary role rather than driving a line against top opponents every night. This shift would not necessarily alter the long-term plan to develop him into an elite center.

A change in Frondell’s role could also affect Bertuzzi’s production. The veteran is currently on pace for 13 goals this season, down from 32 last year. Ryan Donato noted on Thursday that Frondell appears experienced despite his age. "Lessons that you learn over time are really hard lessons, and it seems like he's already learned a lot of them," Donato said. The Blackhawks will determine the final arrangement during Saturday’s warmups in Boston.

The team aims to condense its forward talent rather than spreading it thin across the current setup. The next scheduled games will provide data on whether a role change for Frondell or a system adjustment yields the desired results in the near term.