The Chicago Blackhawks put all their eggs in the basket of the young people this coming season. They hope to see considerable steps of the abundance of young players who get the chance to prove themselves in this 2025-26 campaign. We already know 2023 First General Pick Connor Bedard is a cornerstone piece for the franchise. He will build on what he thought was a mediocre campaign 2024-25.
But more is needed than just one player to make a team successful. An attacker who emerged as another potential piece of the puzzle is the 13one General choice from the design of 2022, Frank Nazar. Let’s see how this is the case and why Nazar is ready for a successful second -year season.
A fertile run in Rockford
With the addition of many experienced free agents in the low season of 2024, Nazar might have been planned for the Rockford Icehogs from the start. But a slow start in the 2024-25 training camp confirmed his fate to start the season with the AHL club. I am sure Nazar was a bit disappointed. He finally surprised everyone by scoring his first NHL goal on his first NHL shot at the end of the 2023-24 campaign (he was suitable for three games after his season ended at the University of Michigan).
But not everything can be a story book, and hockey is actually not a simple game. Nazar went to Rockford, but with a determination to return to the large competitions as quickly as possible.
Nazar essentially conquered the AHL Stormender and collected 11 goals and 24 points in 21 games with the Icehogs. He led all AHL smokies and was sixth in the competition in points At the time of his recall to the Blackhawks.
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In retrospect, it was probably better to excel and build that confidence in Rockford. At the end of the season, Nazar did share that he had the feeling that “it was really good for his development and understanding of pro -hockey”.
Nazar’s transition to the NHL
Nazar was called to the Blackhawks on December 13 and immediately entrusted to second -line centering tasks between veterans Taylor Hall and Tyler Bertuzzi. But just like in training camp, it was a slow start for Nazar. In his first 10 games he only registered one assist. But in his second 10 games he contributed three goals and seven points.
It seems that as soon as this young man is acclimatized, he runs with it. He then referred during his exit interview at the end of the season. Yet he still attributes his success to good, old -fashioned hard work and practice.
I think it’s just from hard work and practice. I think a lot of it goes on ice to practice, and work on things there, and when you can do it there and feel good, it gives you confidence to be, okay; In a game, when I get this touch, I know what it feels because I have already done it. So I think that was a large part for me; Just work on it when we don’t play, and once we get on the ice, it feels comfortable in positions that I get touches that I have worked on.
It was on and off all season for Nazar. But as time went, even when he didn’t score, he stood out as one of the best players on the ice. It was an ongoing joke how many escapes he got that he could not finish. But the most important thing was that he got the opportunities. Said Captain Nick Foligno during the Nazar season: “I saw him ripening a lot before my eyes. I am really proud of that child. He really came to play this year and brought it to heart.”
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Nazar ended his 2024-25 campaign with an admirable 12 goals, 14 assists and 26 points in 53 games, while on average he had 15:52 minutes of ice age. Even missing 29 games and sixth place among the attackers in Ice Age, his pointed total was good for the ninth in the team. That fact that he finally put it all together was clear in the last three games of the season, when he potted three goals and five points.
All in all, that is a Rookie season to hang his hat.
Win gold on the worlds
Nazar took the momentum of a strong outing 2024-25 and rolled it directly into the IIHF world championships 2025 in May. He and colleague Blackhawk’s teammate Alex Vlasic both participated in this annual tournament, representing Team USA. Through 10 games played, the resident of Detroit, Michigan had six goals and 12 points. He received the player of the game in a 6-0 win over Hungary on 11 May, with two goals and an assist.
Two goals in the first period and an assist earn No. 91 player from the game Honors! #Mensworlds pic.twitter.com/f1hrkm0jwm
– USA Hockey (@usahockey) May 11, 2025
When it was all said and done, the six goals from Nazar were bound with Tage Thompson for the highest in the team, and he was declared Top-three players from the tournament for the US.In addition to Logan Cooley (Utah Mammoth) and Conor Garland (Vancouver Canucks).
Nazar not only did well individually on the worlds, but Team USA beat Team Switzerland 1-0 in the final to take the gold medal home! It was the first gold medal profit of the United States in 92 years! It goes without saying that this was a positive experience for Nazar, and only one reliability boost went to the Blackhawks next season.
Nazar’s focus on speed and passing on the example
We have already heard of Captain Foligno how he has seen Nazar grow and mature just before his eyes. But let’s take a few pages of Nazar’s notebook, about what he regards as important and how he deals with his transition to a leader in the team, both on and off the ice.
We all know that this 21-year-old star is praised for its speed. Not only he, but many of the youngsters of the Blackhawks have a quick aspect in their game. This is not lost in the team. They want clearly that this is part of their identity. Nazar was asked about his speed and speed of the team at EXIT interviews.
Yes, I love it. Like, that is of course my game. So the more we can bring that, and you can play, it will benefit myself and the team more. I think you may play the top teams in the competition and that’s how they are. They constantly move a high level, keep you on your heels and put the puck behind you and keep you moving. And that is difficult to keep track of. Not every team can play three periods. So I think it’s a very good step in the right direction for us and the organization. I think it will be successful in the future.
A fast game also becomes much more exciting for the fans! According to Nazar, the Blackhawks have focused their eyes on catching up and keeping, with the contenders.
Nazar also understands that he has to embrace more a leading role. Here is something more of him about his leadership.
I just try to be myself, and I just try to set a good example. In the dressing room I try not to be super loud and fun, tell people what to do, but I try to go outside and just finish my tail, and try, I don’t know, just show what I can do and hopefully to motivate people … it’s more just trying to be myself.
I think we can all agree that so far we are quite happy with the results of Nazar that is true to himself and others. It sounds like words of character that will bring him and the team a long way.
Next steps with the Blackhawks
Since Nazar almost excelled at every level of hockey that he has touched in the past year, it is safe to say that this can lead to good things that are on their way to the Blackhawks’ 2025-26 campaign.
Just before the NHL design of 2025, managing director Kyle Davidson indicated that the organization is currently seeing Bagard and Nazar as their No. 1 and No. 2 centers are moving forward. As indicated above, Nazar brought the majority of his first season to no. 2 Center. So he clearly did enough in the eyes of the team to earn that place.
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Interestingly enough, he also spent a large part of the end of January and then again at the end of March (just under 20 games in total) on the top line with Bedard. Sometimes he stood in the middle and sometimes bedard stood in the middle. Whether the team looks at this option again has to be determined.
But even if these two young superstars do not play together during five-on-five, they will most likely see time together on the Power Play. Nazar was only promoted to the Top Power Play unit to the end of last season. But I would certainly expect that he will be a member of the first unit this season. Moreover, we cannot forget the chemistry of Bedard and Nazar during the extension!
Connor Bedard sets up Frank Nazar for the overtime winner, and so the Chicago season comes to an end. Perfect. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/mznkvtu8pe
– Charlie Roumeliotis (@croumeliotis) April 16, 2025
Nazar also contributes to the penalty murder. He played a total of 51:37 minutes in the PK last season, on average a little less than a minute per game. He was also credited with one of the Blackhawks six short -handed goals and was bound in sixth place with Jason Dickinson for third place in short -handed shots on six.
There is no doubt that Nazar will be given more minutes and more responsibility in all facets of the game in the 2025-26 campaign, so that he can shine many opportunities.
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Hopefully Nazar can continue where he left last season, now with a whole campaign for him, and as one of the leading offensive stars in the team. This season it can easily be the year that we see him benefit from many of those missed opportunities from last season. Perhaps this is the campaign that Nazar doubles that 12 target marking, and it goes in the 30s in Point Production. There is no doubt that this has driven that your husband is on an upward route. Let’s see how far he can take it.
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