Blackhawks’ Rising Star: Frank Nazar’s Journey from the AHL to Potential No. 2 Center in Chicago
Growing up in Hockeytown, playing your first NHL game at Little Caesars Arena is a special milestone. For Frank Nazar, that moment came in January 2025, during a 5-3 loss with the Chicago Blackhawks to the Detroit Red Wings. However, the Detroit native was no stranger to that arena.
“I’ve played there before—preseason, college games—I even got my first college goal there,” Nazar recalled. “It’s always fun, especially with around 100 family members in the crowd. It’s always a blast.”
Before turning pro in April 2024, Nazar’s hockey path was firmly rooted in Michigan. He came up through Detroit’s prestigious Honeybaked program, progressed with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program (NTDP) in Plymouth, and spent two seasons at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. But a key turning point in his development came with a change in position.
While most young players transition from center to wing as they move up levels, Nazar did the reverse. Despite being fast but slightly undersized, he had long wanted to play center. That opportunity finally came at age 17, during his NTDP days, when a COVID-19 outbreak left the team short-staffed.
“I kept asking to play center, and the coaches always said no,” Nazar said. “But then we were short, and I jokingly asked again. They gave me a shot—and I had a great game. That’s when everything changed for me.”
His move to center proved crucial. By the end of 2020-21, Nazar led the U-17 NTDP team in scoring, ahead of players like Logan Cooley, Cutter Gauthier, and Lane Hutson. He placed third in points the following year on the U-18 squad. The Blackhawks selected him 13th overall in the 2022 NHL Draft.
Injuries delayed his freshman NCAA season, but Nazar helped the Michigan Wolverines reach the Frozen Four both years he was there. He also earned a gold medal at the 2024 World Junior Championship, along with many of his NTDP teammates. In April 2024, he made his NHL debut and scored his first goal against the Carolina Hurricanes.
In fall 2024, Nazar started his pro journey in the AHL with the Rockford IceHogs, where coach Anders Sorensen gave him the freedom to play his natural game.
“He let me play freely, in all kinds of situations,” Nazar said. “That really helped my development.”
When Sorensen took over the Blackhawks’ bench on Dec. 5, Nazar joined him in Chicago a week later.
“I texted him congratulations, and he told me how great it was to coach me. I knew he appreciated what I bring to the team,” Nazar said.
Though he notched just one point in his first 10 NHL games, Nazar found his rhythm. From Jan. 5 to season’s end, he registered 25 points in 43 games, including a strong finish with five goals and nine points in his final nine appearances. He locked down the second-line center role behind Connor Bedard.
His confidence soared. Nazar represented Team USA at the men’s World Championship, leading the squad alongside Logan Cooley with 12 points in 10 games. He was named one of the U.S. team’s top three players as they captured their first gold medal since 1933.
Despite the Blackhawks’ struggles last season, Nazar kept a positive outlook, relishing highlights like the Winter Classic at Wrigley Field, witnessing Alex Ovechkin tie a major record, and sharing the ice with veterans Pat Maroon and Alec Martinez in their final NHL games.
With Jeff Blashill now taking over as head coach, Nazar sees next season as a new chapter.
“Everyone is heading into the offseason with something to prove,” he said.
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