KALEN LUMPKINS
Chicago Tribune

CHICAGO — At age 21, Frank Nazar made NHL history this week.

After just 56 games, the Chicago Blackhawks center signed a seven-year, $46.13 million extension, the team announced Thursday. It is the largest contract in league history for a player with that level of experience.

The Hawks are expecting Nazar to take a leap in the coming years, which could make the extension a huge bargain. At the same time, Nazar could lose big money if he indeed turns into a star. This wasn’t the thought when he put pen to paper Thursday.

“(Seeing) that I could be in Chicago for seven years and play with the team, basically of my dreams, a team I want to be at and the city I want to be at with a crew you want to be with, it was an easy decision in the end,” Nazar said Friday during a conference call.

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Nazar will count $6.59 million against the salary cap from the 2026-27 season, when the new deal starts, through 2032-33.

Lukas Reichal and other teammates congratulated Nazar on the signing, but not without poking a little fun.

“Somehow, I guess they were hearing it in Milan before anybody heard it here,” Nazar said. “A bunch of guys reached out and were saying some funny and nice things (such as) “dinner’s on you.” Just lots of support and love, and that’s something that you love to see … especially with a group like this.”

Nazar was a highlight on a struggling Hawks team last season. The extension is a bold but clear message that the front office sees and expects Nazar to be a key player during the team’s rebuild. Nazar doesn’t see himself changing anything, even with the added pressure.

“I’m going to go into each season thinking I’m the best and just believing in my process and what I can do,” Nazar said. “I don’t think anything changes from me.”

What Nazar does see himself as is an example for others wanting to reach the heights he has in such a short time. He attributes it to hard work.

“I hope that anybody who’s put in the same position that I was put in comes out on top and comes out with a head of steam,” Nazar said. “The crew and staff here helped an amazing amount, and I know that if any player is able to do the same process I went through, they’re going to come out on top.”

The forward had 26 points (12 goals, 14 assists) last season, with nine coming in the last eight games. Nazar showed flashes of speed and playmaking to end the year, two perks the Hawks need to develop as a whole.

The Hawks finished the 2024-25 campaign with the seventh-lowest goals per game (2.73) and ranked 25th in five-on-five goals. They finished last in scoring-chance percentage, creating opportunities only 42.8% of the time. Nazar on the second line behind Connor Bedard will leave a consistent playmaker on the ice, which should lead to an increase in scoring opportunities.

Nazar was one of three rookies to score a short-handed goal and the only rookie to score on a penalty shot. He appeared in 21 games with the Rockford IceHogs, posting 24 points and earning AHL All-Star honors. Internationally, he led Team USA to its first gold medal in 92 years with 12 points (six goals, six assists) in 10 games. Add in the late-season surge, and you can understand why general manager Kyle Davidson made the extension a priority.

“Frank elevated his game last season and has proven himself to be one of the top young talents in the league,” Davidson said. “He drives play using his elite speed and playmaking abilities, creating problems for opponents and opportunities for teammates every night. Frank is an integral piece of our team, and we’re thrilled to have him with us for the next eight seasons.”

Nazar views himself as “the best,” a label he thinks all great hockey players have and need.

“I always say how much I believe in myself and I’m just very confident in what I can do,” Nazar said. “I always go into everything thinking I’m the best. (If) you don’t think you’re the best, then you probably shouldn’t be playing hockey.”

Nazer plans to play the “full 82” games for the Hawks this season after his 53-game stint in 2024-25. He said he needed to adjust to NHL scheduling coming out of Michigan, so conditioning is at the top of his offseason list.

“This will technically be my first full year in NHL,” Nazar said. “Even though I played in an extreme amount of games last year with Rockford and then with Chicago, (I’m) hoping to play that full (season) in the NHL. (I’ll) come in to be ready for that and make sure my body is feeling great.”

Nazar’s approach to the season won’t change, but the goal has shifted: adding to the win column.

“I want to play the best hockey I can play and prove who I am and what I can do,” Nazar said. “I’m going into the season and I want to win.”

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