Frank Nazar

May 2023 – Nazar sustained a hip injury in October 2022 which led to the Blackhawks prospect being shut down for the season. The Blackhawks organization have every expectation that Nazar will be fully recovered and ready to go once training camp opens, but in all likelihood he will be sent back to the University of Michigan to get more development in before being brought up to the big leagues. Puneet Sharma

August 2022 – This past season Nazar played with the USN U18 Team where he posted 28 goals and 42 assists in 56 games. In all likelihood he will spend a few years in college to further develop his skills. There are some glaring holes in his defensive game which he needs to focus on if he plans on being a top centre with the Blackhawks. He has become more selective on how and when to accelerate and slow down his tempo in order to control the flow of the game. The raw talent, playmaking and creativity are certainly there. Nazar was cut from the USA Hockey Roster for World Juniors tournament this month. You can expect that he will have a better chance at making the World Juniors later on this year. This upcoming season Nazar will be  playing with elite draft prospect Adam Fantilli in Michigan which will only help his game. Puneet Sharma

July 2022 – With their second pick in the first round of the 2022 NHL Draft, the Blackhawks selected Frank Nazar 13th overall. Nick Richard

December 2021 – Nazar led the USNTDP’s U17 team in scoring last season and he hasn’t missed a beat after making the jump to the U18 squad this year. He has been one of their most productive offensive players while playing second line minutes and contributing on both special teams units. Nick Richard

September 2021 – Frank Nazar has always produced offense, going back to his age 15 season with Honeybaked AAA in 2019-20 when he scored a ridiculous 49 goals and 78 assists in just 55 games. He joined the USNTDP in 2020-21 and continued to rack up points, racking up 28 goals and 27 assists in 45 games with the U17 team. He added a pair of goals and an assist in a two game stint with the U18 squad late in the year and will look to pick up where he left off as he steps into a larger role in his draft year.

Nazar is a great skater with high-end speed and elusiveness. He has quick, agile feet that allow him to jump around checks and weave through traffic with the puck on his stick. He is a weapon in transition, driving offense with controlled zone entries and facilitating scoring chances. Nazar is dangerous off the rush with his speed, slick hands, and ability to see teammates and hit them with clean feeds in space. He is a good shooter with a quick, effortless release that will only become more of a weapon as he matures and adds strength. He has good spatial awareness in the offensive zone and drifts in and out of coverage to force defenders into quick decisions. His mobility, quick hands, and propensity for finding shooting space in tight make him particularly deadly off of unexpected changes in possession. Nazar is a versatile player who has lined up on the wing and down the middle with the USNTDP. He is a dual-threat as a shooter and passer on the powerplay and has proven capable of killing penalties as well. He pressures the opposition with his speed and doesn’t shy away from the dirty areas despite his small stature. He can be overmatched at times but that doesn’t stop him from launching his undersized frame into opposing players when given the chance. For all the skill, smarts, and energy that he brings, the one concern I have with Nazar’s game is that there are rare occasions when he looks disengaged or gets caught watching the play unfold in front of him. His raw talent is undeniable and if he can add some muscle as he develops, Frank Nazar could be an offensive force in the NHL. Nick Richard