Welcome to Chicago Kid: Frank Nazar Latest to Sign an Entry-Level Deal

The Michigan Wolverines are out of the Frozen Four, but Frank Nazar might still have a few more hockey games left to play this season and a handful may be with the Chicago Blackhawks.

The Blackhawks announced an entry-level deal with Nazar today, inking him to a three-year deal that runs through the 2025-26 season. It also means the first year of that contract will be exhausted with just three to go–and maybe just a couple featuring him.

But another potential building block will be out there for Hawks fans to see before the season is up.

Frank Nazar Kept Rising to the Occasion for the Wolverines

It really felt more like a matter of when and not if Nazar would be signed by the Blackhawks–and that when is now. He registered 41 games with Michigan and was a point-per-game with the Wolverines scoring 17 goals. He’s a scoring punch that the team desperately needs and while the season has but three games left, it at least provides a glimpse of what can be for an entire 82-game slate should Nazar break camp with the team next season.

But over the course of the bigger games for the Wolverines, it was Nazar who continued to rise to the top of things. Whether it was a big goal, a highlight reel pass through the legs, or a huge clear out of the defensive zone, Nazar seemed to always be in the middle of things.

It’s precisely what the Blackhawks expected when they traded Kirby Dach to snag him with the 13th overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft and what they’re banking on for him to bring as a building block.

Let’s face it: that 2022 Draft needs both Nazar and Korchinski to hit as expected because Connor Bedard can’t do it alone. Besides, the top 15 picks have to be as can’t miss a possible for teams picking there.

Frank Nazar looks like he very well is a can’t miss. Now we’ll all get a chance to see how it kicks off.

Welcome to Chicago, kid.

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