Blackhawks’ Frank Nazar Primed for 2025-26 Breakout Season – The Hockey Writers – Chicago Blackhawks

The Chicago Blackhawks are putting all their eggs in the youngsters’ basket this upcoming season. They’re hoping to see substantial steps from the plethora of young players who will be given a chance to prove themselves in this 2025-26 campaign. We already know 2023 first overall draft pick Connor Bedard is a cornerstone piece for the franchise. He’ll look to build on what he thought was a mediocre 2024-25 campaign.

But it takes more than just one player to make a team successful. A forward who’s emerged as another potential piece of the puzzle is the 13^th overall pick from the 2022 Draft, Frank Nazar. Let’s look at how this is the case, and why Nazar is primed for a successful sophomore season.

A Fruitful Run in Rockford

With the addition of many veteran free agents in the 2024 offseason, Nazar might have been slated for the Rockford IceHogs from the beginning. But a slow start in the 2024-25 training camp cemented his fate to begin the season with the AHL club. I’m sure Nazar was a bit disappointed. After all, he wowed everyone by scoring his first NHL goal on his first NHL shot at the tail end of the 2023-24 campaign (he suited up for three games after his season ended at the University of Michigan).

But not everything can be storybook, and hockey is actually NOT an easy game. To Rockford Nazar went, but with a determination to make it back up to the big leagues as soon as possible.

Nazar essentially took the AHL by storm, collecting 11 goals and 24 points in 21 games with the IceHogs. He led all AHL rookies and being sixth in the league in points at the time of his recall to the Blackhawks.  

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In hindsight, it was probably better to excel and build that confidence in Rockford. At the end of the season, Nazar did share that he felt “it was really good for his development and understanding of pro hockey”.

Nazar’s Transition to the NHL

Nazar was called up to the Blackhawks on Dec. 13, and immediately entrusted with second-line centering duties between veterans Taylor Hall and Tyler Bertuzzi. But just like in training camp, it was a slow start for Nazar. In his first 10 games, he registered just one assist. But in his second 10 games, he contributed three goals and seven points.