Frank Nazar: Potential X-Factor in Blackhawks Top Six

The Chicago Blackhawks are buzzing with excitement after drafting Connor Bedard.

They’ve made big moves, adding new players, staff, and even updating the United Center. But amidst all this hype, there’s a challenge for rookie Frank Nazar and the unique role he might play. After finishing his season at the University of Michigan in April, Nazar signed his entry-level contract. He got to play his first three NHL games soon after, part of a group of new Hawks prospects making their debuts. Nazar got a lot of ice time—16 minutes on average—and even played alongside Bedard for some shifts. Though he only scored once, he showed he could keep up with NHL speed and talent.

Nazar’s significant ice time hints at Chicago’s belief in his potential role. They didn’t waste any opportunity to test him with their top players—a strategy that could be even more valuable now with the team’s summer upgrades. The Blackhawks’ offense looks stronger with Teuvo Teravainen, Tyler Bertuzzi joining in, and Taylor Hall returning. This trio will likely team up with Bedard and either Andreas Athanasiou or Philipp Kurashev to form an exciting top-six lineup.

Chicago’s Revamped Offense:

But there’s still one spot open in this dynamic mix. While veterans like Jason Dickinson, Nick Foligno, or Ilya Mikheyev seem like safe choices for this position, fans might think Nazar’s high-skill style is a better fit . At the U.S. NTDP, Nazar competed fiercely for top-line minutes against Logan Cooley and Cutter Gauthier. He scored over a point per game there and had a knack for boosting talented wingers like Rutger McGroarty and Jimmy Snuggerud.

Even though he missed most of the 2022-23 season due to injury, last season he bounced back strong by helping Michigan reach the Big Ten championship game and Frozen Four semifinal alongside McGroarty.

Kyle Davidson has mentioned that every player has an “equal chance” to make it into the Blackhawks lineup from training camp. This statement adds some uncertainty about Nazar’s guaranteed spot but also shows how competitive things will get .

Despite being less experienced than other contenders like Lukas Reichel or Landon Slaggert—with just one college season under his belt—Nazar’s special offensive talent makes him an early favorite to complete Chicago’s high-scoring top six .

He may need to prove himself further in minor leagues or wait for others to falter before securing his place among Chicago’s elite scorers .

What do you think? Will Nazar shine next season?