Victor Eklund was persistent when he repeatedly approached Robert Kimby, his coach in the Swedish Tier 2 league, with a request to play alongside his longtime friend, Anton Frondell. Even after being turned down multiple times, Eklund continued to advocate for the chance. “I must have told him 10 times,” Eklund commented during the recent NHL pre-draft combine held in Buffalo. “His response was always, ‘Yeah, yeah, yeah, I don’t know.’” Finally, after the Christmas break, the two were paired together on the ice, leading their team Djurgarden to a championship and highlighting them in central scouting’s rankings of international players.
Frondell, a center, topped the rankings and is anticipated to be a potential second-overall pick by San Jose during the upcoming NHL draft in Los Angeles. Known for his playmaking abilities, Frondell scored 11 goals and accumulated 25 points in 29 games, finishing second among players 18 years or younger in the league. Eklund, celebrated for his dynamic and persistent style of play, is projected as a top-10 draft pick, having surpassed Frondell with 19 goals and 31 points in 42 games last year. “We both knew that if given the chance, we could be the best line out there,” said Eklund, whose older brother William was a 2021 first-rounder with San Jose. Eklund fondly remembers their early encounters as 10-year-olds playing on opposing teams in Stockholm, and they’ve been teammates since 2021. Eklund recalls Frondell making a move with the puck through his legs, a memory that Frondell responds to with a smile, noting he indeed remembers.
Meanwhile, Mason West from Edina, Minnesota, was busy juggling football and hockey in high school before realizing his NHL draft eligibility. Standing 6-foot-6 and weighing 215 pounds, West plays both center in hockey and quarterback in football. He was invited to the NHL scouting combine, marking a significant moment in his sports journey. “I was just focused on taking each day as it came,” said West, committed to play college hockey at Michigan State. As a rookie with Fargo in the USHL, he recorded a goal and nine points in 10 games. Ranked 27th on central scouting’s North American skaters list, West remains concentrated on his goals, saying, “I didn’t see the NHL stuff coming this year. But I continued to work hard, and opportunities came my way.” Although dedicating more time to hockey after the USHL opportunity, West still plans to aim for a state championship in both sports his senior year. West looks up to New York Islanders captain Anders Lee, who also hails from Edina and was a high school quarterback.
The trading of draft picks has already commenced this week, with Vancouver’s No. 117 pick, a fourth-rounder, traded to Edmonton for Evander Kane. More trades are expected through Saturday, possibly involving the Washington Capitals’ 27th pick. Washington’s assistant GM Ross Mahoney acknowledged the possibility, stating, “There’s always a chance a pick could move. Making picks is our job, but if trading helps the team, you consider it.” Islanders GM Mathieu Darche confirmed they aren’t trading their top spot, whereas San Jose, Chicago, and Utah’s GM Bill Armstrong discussed strategies surrounding the No. 4 pick. “You explore all options, that’s part of my job,” Armstrong noted, emphasizing the ongoing discussions to maximize their selections.
In other NHL news, Boston College’s James Hagens has seen the “Bring Hagens Home” bumper stickers on Long Island. “It’s funny and makes you smile,” said Hagens, an Islanders fan and the top-ranked U.S.-born prospect. Since 2015, 11 U.S.-born players have been picked within the top-five, including No. 1 picks Auston Matthews (2016) and Jack Hughes (2019). Additionally, Cullen Potter, an Arizona State forward, shares a unique mother-son connection—his mother Jenny was a four-time U.S. Olympian, part of the gold medal-winning 1998 team, and holds a U.S. record with 32 career Olympic points, surpassing Hilary Knight, who’s preparing for her fifth Olympics.