Frank Nazar’s season started with a bang.
Fresh off signing a seven-year, $43.16 million extension in August, the young Chicago Blackhawks center scored the team’s first goal in the opener and five in the first 10 games.
That would end up being a rare occurrence for a while.
Nazar went through a 21-game stretch without a goal from Oct. 30 though Dec. 16 — though he did have nine assists in that span — before sounding the horn Dec. 18 in Montreal. He had no chance for a snowball effect when a jaw injury then sidelined him for 14 games.
Despite the drought, coach Jeff Blashill looked deeper into Nazar’s play and saw some positives, including his improved ice vision, puck play and confidence.
“He’s learning how to have the puck a lot, (and) you have the puck a lot by winning puck battles and making sure you’re not careless with the puck,” Blashill said. “He (doing) a much better job because he had the puck more, and when he has the puck more, then he has to use his speed, which (is) probably his superpower.”
Nazar has put his skills on full display in the last four games, compiling six points, including scoring the overtime game-winner Monday against the Utah Mammoth. His two goals in that stretch matched his total from the previous 35 games.
“At times, (not scoring) can be frustrating, but (it’s) just reminding yourself that that’s part of the game, so all means have to even out,” Nazar said. “Just keep shooting and keep creating those chances, and that’s more important than if they’re going in because sooner or later, it’s gonna happen.”
He has kept shooting, putting nine shots on goal in those four games. The 22-year-old Detroit native appears to be getting his mojo back.
“The only way to get get better at something is jump right into it and practice,” Nazar said. “I think through playing each game I play, the game starts to slow down and you see the plays a lot better. That’s something that has been growing a lot since my first game a couple years ago.”
Blackhawks center Frank Nazar (91) tries to keep control of the puck against Sharks defenseman Timothy Liljegren on Feb. 2, 2026, at the United Center. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
While the game has slowed down for Nazar, his superpower — as Blashill put it — has not. He has the 10th-fastest skating speed in the NHL this season at 23.76 mph.
“That’s a huge aspect, using my speed to either create pressure on the other team and try to make them turn the puck over or push them back and find guys later or create some open spots for my teammates,” Nazar said. “That and reading the ice well and seeing the ice is something that helps.”
The heater has put him at 30 points (nine goals, 21 assists) in 48 games, a career high despite his long cold stretches (he had 26 points in 53 games in 2024-25 after playing three games in his first season). Nazar’s best games this season have come while skating alongside alternate captain Tyler Bertuzzi. A Bertuzzi-Nazar-Teuvo Teräväinen line has seen the center’s best production as a result.
“He’s really good on the forecheck and getting the puck, and then he gets to those gritty spots in front of the net, not many guys do that, and he’s so good there,” Nazar said of Teräväinen. “That pairs well with what I try to do, get the puck up top, shoot the puck and get it to him down low. A lot of props to him for being so smart, so skilled and always making the right play.”
Nazar has learned the little things over time, something Blashill has tried to instill in the younger players this season. Mastering those techniques will lead to more goal opportunities.
“It’s probably most important thing in hockey is being able to see the ice and and being a smart player,” Nazar said. “Look at (Nick Foligno), he’s not still playing now because he’s the fastest player in the league. He’s still playing because he knows the game and he can read everything really well. That’s why he’s able to keep up, play this long and still be a factor.”
Nazar refers to Foligno as “former captain,” along with ex-alternates Jason Dickinson and Connor Murphy, all of whom were traded last week. The Hawks are in ground-up mode, so the players’ consensus is wanting to be the ones to step up in the absence of the veteran trio.
“(I) tried to do that even when they were here, lead by example, work my tail off and go out there and try to be the best player I can be,” Nazar said. “It’s going to be more of a challenge now without them here because then you’ve got to try to do your best, show up every night and not make as many mistakes, but I love challenges and (I’ll) just try to be myself and go from there.”
Injury updates
Spencer Knight (illness) returned to practice Wednesday, and Blashill said the goaltender should be ready to play Thursday in Salt Lake City. Goaltender Drew Commesso was assigned to the Rockford IceHogs in a corresponding move.
Blashill didn’t offer an update on Oliver Moore’s condition following a lower-body injury suffered Sunday in Dallas, other than it won’t affect the forward’s status for next season. Blashill said Monday that Moore will miss “significant time,” and given the Hawks have only 18 games remaining, Moore’s season could be over.