CHICAGO — Welcome to the NHL, Frank Nazar.
Nazar scored on his first shot on objective in his debut with the Chicago Blackhawks within the crew’s residence finale in opposition to the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday.
Carrying No. 91, a smiling Nazar received a giant cheer from the early-arriving followers when he took the ice for his solo rookie lap forward of warmups. He centered a line with Jason Dickinson and Joey Anderson at the start of the sport, however coach Luke Richardson mentioned the Blackhawks may check out a pair totally different combos.
After arising empty on an early power-play alternative, Nazar received a slick cross from Seth Jones and skated in on Pyotr Kochetkov for a breakaway. He beat Kochetkov on the goaltender’s stick facet 10:05 into the primary interval, sending a cost by the United Heart crowd.
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The 20-year-old Nazar, one in every of Chicago’s prime prospects, turned professional after Michigan misplaced 4-0 to Boston Faculty within the Frozen 4 on Thursday evening. The 5-foot-10 ahead agreed to a three-year contract that runs by the 2025-26 season at a $950,000 salary-cap hit.
The arrival of Nazar gives a hopeful observe for Chicago on the finish of one other tough season. Whereas Connor Bedard lived as much as the hype in his rookie 12 months, the Blackhawks carried a 23-51-5 file into the matchup with the Hurricanes.
Nazar, a Detroit native, was the No. 13 decide within the 2022 NHL draft. He had 17 objectives and 24 assists in 41 video games in his final season with the Wolverines, together with three profitable objectives.
“We all know his stage, so we’ve no drawback placing him at this stage,” Richardson mentioned earlier than the sport. “It should be a number of data for him immediately. … We do not want for him to do something further particular, let it occur and when he will get right into a place the place it is broad open, he’ll see it as a result of he is a very good participant.”
Chicago finishes its schedule with video games at Vegas on Tuesday and Los Angeles on Thursday. However having Nazar make his debut in opposition to Carolina permits him to expertise the ambiance at residence earlier than subsequent season.
“I feel it is a particular place, and that is our final residence sport, so I feel it will be actually particular for him and his household, which I’ve met they usually’re nice individuals,” Richardson mentioned. “They are going to have the ability to get right here with the proximity, which is nice, and to see the nationwide anthem and the power on this constructing. When there is a new participant, I feel all the blokes on the crew elevate their consciousness they usually actually look ahead and encourage them and assist them out. I am wanting ahead to seeing that, too.”
Nazar had 19 objectives and 29 assists whereas showing in 54 video games for Michigan in two seasons. He additionally helped the U.S. win the 2024 world junior championship, recording eight assists in seven video games.
