Frank Nazar might not grab headlines like Connor Bedard, but make no mistake; he’s one of the most exciting young players in Chicago’s system. When you pair him alongside the one of the most hyped prospect to enter the NHL in a generation, something special starts to take shape.
The Chicago Blackhawks have been in full rebuild mode for a few years now, but the light at the end of the tunnel has never looked brighter. Bedard remains the franchise centerpiece, a generational talent who is already growing into a leadership role. He was awarded an alternate captain designation after the leadership group of Nick Foligno, Connor Murphy, and Jason Dickinson were all traded away at the trade deadline, with many expecting him to wear the full captaincy as soon as next season. Yardbarker That kind of responsibility on a 20-year-old says everything about how the organization views him.
But Bedard cannot do it alone. No star can. And that is exactly where Nazar comes in.
When Nazar arrived for training camp this past summer, coach Jeff Blashill could sense he was ready to build on a strong finish to his rookie campaign, where he posted seven goals and eight points in Chicago's final seven games. ESPN That momentum carried into the early part of this season, and Nazar came out of the gate hot, putting up five goals and 11 points in just 11 games in October. The Hockey Writers
It did not take long for Nazar to announce himself to the hockey world. Called up by the Blackhawks at the end of the 2023-24 season, he made an immediate impression on his very first shift. Starting on the third line alongside Jason Dickinson and Joey Anderson, Nazar won the opening faceoff and stood out on both ends of the ice throughout the first period. sportsmockery Then, with barely any time to get comfortable at the game's highest level, he did something that even the most optimistic Blackhawks fan could not have scripted.
On his first career shot in his first career game, Frank Nazar scored his first NHL goal. sportsmockery Just like that, a star was born.
It was the kind of moment that sends a jolt through a fanbase that had been patient through years of rebuilding. One shot. One goal. A statement delivered without hesitation. Even though it was important not to overreact to one goal, Nazar looked as comfortable as any rookie could in his debut, giving fans a more positive outlook going forward.
First game, first shot, first goal.
— Spittin' Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) April 14, 2024
What a debut for Frank Nazar! pic.twitter.com/AVBjgcllyv
sportsmockery For a team still finding its footing, it was a glimpse of exactly what the future had in store.
The two young pivots quickly established themselves as Chicago's engine. Veteran forward Jason Dickinson put it well: "The two of them, they've definitely taken it on their shoulders to say, 'I'm going to win games for us' night after night. That sort of leadership has been nice to see, because it's growth." ESPN
Injuries derailed what could have been an even bigger breakthrough season. Bedard went down with a shoulder injury on December 12, and just days later, Nazar took a puck to the face against Ottawa, suffering a broken jaw that kept him out for a month. ESPN Losing both of their top centers at the same time exposed just how reliant Chicago has become on them. The Blackhawks went 5-6-1 before Bedard returned, including losing seven of eight at one stretch. ESPN
The absence made the reunion that much more meaningful. When both players got healthy and back on the ice together, the Blackhawks started to look like a team with a real identity. In a late-season nine-game stretch, Nazar put up four goals and 10 points, including a game-winning overtime goal against Utah. Yardbarker Bedard, meanwhile, posted three goals and eight points over a seven-game stretch that included his own overtime winner against the Utah Mammoth. Yardbarker
Coach Blashill has been direct about what he believes this pairing can become. "Connor and Frank are our two most dynamic forwards. What you hope, when you put lines together, is the sum is greater than the parts. Can they be exponentially better as a pair? We hope so," Blashill said.
The answer, based on what fans have seen this season, looks like a resounding yes.
Nazar is locked in on a seven-year extension worth over $46 million, carrying a cap hit of $6.6 million per season starting in 2026-27. Puckpedia That kind of commitment from the front office signals they see him as a cornerstone alongside Bedard for the foreseeable future. Chicago is not just hoping these two develop into stars; they are betting on it.
The rebuild is not finished. The wins are still coming in spurts. But when you watch Bedard and Nazar share the ice, you get a glimpse of what this franchise is building toward. Two young, dynamic, two-way centers with the skill, compete level, and hunger to carry a team deep into the playoffs for years to come.
The dynamic duo in Chicago is taking shape. And they are just getting started.
The numbers tell the story of a player who has done nothing but improve every time he has stepped on the ice at a new level.
Nazar's NHL debut in the spring of 2024 was brief, just three games, but he made it count with a goal on his very first career shot. That cameo set the tone for what was coming. The following season, he split time between the AHL and the NHL, posting 24 points in just 21 games with the Rockford IceHogs before earning his way back to Chicago for good. In 53 NHL games that year, he put up 26 points, and he saved his best for last, racking up eight points in his final nine games to close the season with a statement.
Frank Nazar – Points Per Season (Chicago Blackhawks)
| Season | GP | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Spring 2024 | 3 | 1 |
| 2024–25 | 53 | 26 |
| 2025–26 | 64 | 41 |
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