Cullen of Penguins mentoring 2019 NHL Draft prospect Frisch

Every Thursday, NHL.com will look ahead to the 2019 NHL Draft with an in-depth profile on one of its top prospects.

Ethan Frisch feels fortunate to have Matt Cullen in his corner.
After all, if Frisch wants to have a lengthy NHL career, learning from the League's eldest player wouldn't be the worst idea. The 18-year-old defenseman for Green Bay of the United States Hockey League has trained with Cullen, the Pittsburgh Penguins' 42-year-old forward, and would like to replicate what the three-time Stanley Cup champion has achieved.
"He's been in the League longer than I've been alive, which is pretty incredible to me," Frisch said. "The way he takes care of himself and goes about it every day."
Hockey and skating came natural to Frisch (5-foot-11, 189 pounds), who is from Moorhead, Minnesota. His father, Dan Frisch, and uncle, Ryan Frisch, each played. His aunts were professional figure skating coaches.
Dan and Ryan Frisch played with Cullen at Moorhead High School before Ryan joined him at St. Cloud State University. The Cullens have been close to the Frisch family, including Ethan, since.
Cullen sees some of himself in Frisch.
"He's one of those kids that I tell my [kids] just to watch how he works, and watch how he plays," Cullen said. "He's as good of a kid and as good of a person as you're going to see in the game of hockey, and he comes from a great family. Great people. Just a really hard-working kid, honest kid. Good person. He's really grounded, I would say. Very mature for a kid his age."
Frisch's attitude is what Cullen and Green Bay coach Pat Mikesch lauded the most.
"Ethan is the type of player who just wants to continue to learn," Mikesch said. "He's always asking questions and really focused on the little details of the game and improving himself as a defenseman. But I would say attention to detail is one of his big things."
Frisch looks up to San Jose Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson. He also said he's tried to model his style after Penguins defenseman Kris Letang.

Karlsson and Letang have been two of the NHL's top offensive defensemen throughout their respective careers. Frisch aims to join them.
"Personally, I think offensively, I could become more a threat," Frisch said. "I think I've taken that first step. Obviously, I want to be better and better every game. So it's a start. I hope to keep improving all season."
Frisch, who is committed to the University of North Dakota, has eight points (two goals, six assists) in 19 games with Green Bay this season. He plays in nearly every situation for Mikesch, who uses him on the power play and penalty kill.
"He's already mature beyond his years. You see how much I'm able to use him in a game," Mikesch said. "He just takes care of himself. That's the kind of kid that he is. He's trying to learn from other people to see how you eat, how you manage travel, how you manage post-games. Things like that. He's always trying to listen from everybody around him."
Those include his teammates, who Frisch credited for his development.
"Great role models that day in and day out, give everything you got, better yourself every day," Frisch said. "They really harp on that every day is a new opportunity to get better. I really respect that. I think we have a great group of veterans on this team."
Frisch also takes a lot from Cullen. There is much he could learn from someone who has played 1,463 games in 21 NHL seasons. But it's what Frisch has seen from Cullen off the ice that he would like to emulate.
"He's always around in the summers. He's a great guy," Frisch said. "You hear about him in the League, and how he's the oldest guy in the League now. He's amazing. The way he takes care of himself and how he gives back to the community. He pays for our ice in the summer. He works out with us. He's a great, all-around guy."
Cullen spoke of Frisch in a similar tone.
"I've just been impressed with every aspect of what he's doing," Cullen said. "We skate together a lot during the summer and he trains with my good friend in the offseason. I'm in the same gym training. I've just been very impressed with the way that he's grown through the last few years. He's been a top prospect for a while, and a highly touted player. He's earned it.
"He's worked for it. He continues to work. I'm just impressed with the way he focuses on his goals. He doesn't get distracted. He'll make the right sacrifices in order to get what he wants."

Frisch has a C rating on NHL Central Scouting's Players to Watch list for November. Players with a C rating are considered potential fourth, fifth or sixth-round candidates for the 2019 NHL Draft.
When asked if Frisch has the potential to have a lengthy NHL career similar to his, Cullen's answer was definitive.
"He has NHL-caliber skills, but it's just a matter of is a kid willing to put in the work?" Cullen said. "With him, it's 100 percent yes."