Anton Frondell exposed the Jets’ biggest problem in one net-front battle
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Daniel Lucente
Apr 3, 2026 (1:26 PM)
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Photo credit: © Terrence Lee-Imagn Images
Anton Frondell turned one battle with Neal Pionk into a warning for the Winnipeg Jets, because this kid already changes games at the crease.
The Jets still left Chicago with a 4-3 overtime win on March 31, but the clip that took off online came from a Blackhawks rookie dragging the game into his kind of chaos.
That is why this matters in Winnipeg. The result belonged to Kyle Connor, yet the sequence belonged to the teenager who made Pionk look a half-step late around the net.
Frondell is 18, drafted third overall in 2025 by Chicago, and he arrived from Djurgårdens after posting 20 goals and 28 points in 43 SHL games this season.
In six NHL games, he already has 1-4-5. That is a tiny sample, but the detail that jumps out is where those touches happen, low, heavy, and right on top of defenders.
You can see the exact moment he gets under Pionk's hands, protects the puck, and opens the lane that leads to Tyler Bertuzzi's tying goal.
"Jaw-dropping sequence against the Jets."
- Vincent Carbonneau
- Vincent Carbonneau
Anton Frondell pushed the Winnipeg Jets inward
Jets fans should feel two things at once here, relief and annoyance. Winnipeg won the game, but the clip shows a defensive weak spot teams will keep testing.
Frondell did not beat the Jets with speed through the neutral zone. He beat them in the ugly ice, behind the goal line, on retrievals, and in second-effort battles.
That is a real playoff concern for Winnipeg's blue line. When coverage gets pulled below the dots, their slot support can loosen for one touch too long.
Pionk is still a useful defender, and one clip does not change that. It does show how quickly a strong, crafty rookie can punish lost body position around the crease.
For the Jets, this viral moment is less about getting embarrassed and more about getting a free warning before tougher spring hockey arrives.
For Chicago, it looks like the first proof that Frondell is not just skilled. He already understands where NHL offense gets dirty, and that usually travels.
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| POLL | ||
AVRIL 3|64 ANSWERS Anton Frondell exposed the Jets’ biggest problem in one net-front battle Did Anton Frondell expose a real Jets defensive issue near the net? | ||
| Yes | 61 | 95.3 % |
| No | 3 | 4.7 % |
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