The Chicago Blackhawks signed ahead Frank Nazar to a seven-year contract extension on Thursday with a cap hit of $6.59 million per season. The contract doesn’t kick in till the 2026-27 season, as Nazar nonetheless has a yr left on his entry-level deal. The hope — the expectation, actually — is that he and Connor Bedard could be the Blackhawks’ 1-2 punch down the center for the following decade or extra.
For a lot of final season, Nazar was tantalizing however irritating for the Blackhawks, all velocity and slickness and scoring probabilities with little manufacturing to point out for it. Then, the calendar turned to April, and the puck began entering into. Nazar had 5 objectives and 4 assists in eight video games in April. He then went on to star for Crew USA on the World Championships with group highs of six objectives and 6 assists in 10 video games because the People gained the event for the first time since 1933.
“Frank elevated his recreation final season and has confirmed himself to be one of many high younger abilities within the league,” Blackhawks basic supervisor Kyle Davidson mentioned in a launch. “He drives play utilizing his elite velocity and playmaking talents, creating issues for opponents and alternatives for teammates each evening. Frank is an integral piece of our group, and we’re thrilled to have him with us for the following eight seasons.”
Nazar was the No. 13 choose within the 2022 draft, with Davidson buying and selling Kirby Dach to Montreal for the precise to pick out Nazar. After a point-a-game sophomore season on the College of Michigan, Nazar joined the Blackhawks for 3 video games on the finish of the 2023-24 season, scoring one aim. He began final season with the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs however was known as up in mid-December, shortly after head coach Luke Richardson was fired. Nazar began slowly, however thanks largely to his dynamic ending kick, he completed the season with 12 objectives and 14 assists in 53 video games.
“I need to play in Chicago for the remainder of my life,” Nazar advised The Athletic in June. “I believe it’s a fantastic metropolis and a fantastic group and a higher group. So, if that’s an possibility and that’s one thing to arrange, then I’m at all times keen to look into it and take a look at issues. However I’ve been tremendous grateful and pleased with my time in Chicago up to now, and I’d like to maintain it going.”
By signing Nazar to a long-term deal now, the Blackhawks lock him in at an inexpensive charge that might doubtlessly be an enormous discount if Nazar retains producing like he did within the spring, particularly because the wage cap skyrockets within the coming years. In the meantime, Nazar secures life-changing cash with out feeling the load of a looming contract in what can be his first full NHL season.
For comparability’s sake, Colorado signed Nathan MacKinnon — to whom no one is evaluating Nazar to simply but — to a seven-year contract with a $6.3 million cap hit out of his entry-level deal, which proved to be one of many all-time, team-friendly offers as MacKinnon’s star rose. MacKinnon absolutely left a ton of cash on the desk in the long term, however on the time of the signing, he had but to show he was a celebrity participant. MacKinnon now carries a $12.6 million cap hit.
gutsy transfer by the Blackhawks to increase Nazar long-term this early into his profession… however he already is exhibiting indicators of having the ability to play as much as that $6million vary and that ought to solely pattern up as he develops pic.twitter.com/cMJeuefVTl
— Shayna (@shaynagoldman_) August 21, 2025
Nazar’s signing does once more increase the specter of Bedard’s subsequent contract. Like Nazar, Bedard is getting into the ultimate yr of his entry-level deal and is eligible to signal an extension at any level. Neither aspect seems to be in a rush, and neither aspect appears to be too frightened.
“We’ve a fantastic relationship and everybody is aware of I need to be a Hawk so long as I’m taking part in,” Bedard advised The Athletic in June. “And I do know they recognize me and wish me with the group. As soon as you already know that, there’s no stress or something about that. Whether or not it’s completed subsequent week or throughout the yr or on the finish of the yr, that doesn’t stress me out an excessive amount of.
“Something can occur, however the relationship with me and the group is admittedly robust.”
(Photograph: Gregory Shamus / Getty Photographs)
