Frank Nazar caught between injury and interruption

Like the rest of the NHL, the Chicago Blackhawks are on a temporary hiatus due to the 2026 Winter Olympics. For Frank Nazar, the timing couldn't have come at a worse time, with him only making his return from a brutal jaw injury that saw him off the ice for over a month. He returned to the active roster in late January, but only had enough time to fit into eight games before the Olympic break.

In a season already struggling with continuity, Nazar's injury arrived during a critical stretch of the year. By the time he reentered the lineup, he did so with little margin for adjustment. Eight games are not enough time to redefine a season, but could be enough to show direction. In Nazar's case, that direction appeared to be trending upward, even if the production hadn't caught anyone's eye yet. For a young leader on the team, this is crucial.

Eight Games That Mattered More Than the Numbers

Before the injury, Nazar's impact was fleeting. He appeared in 10 games in December, but outside of a single goal against Montreal, his nights were largely quiet. Beyond that lone score, the production never strung together, and now a rift in the season will cool off any momentum he managed to build. He managed four total points prior to his unfortunate injury.

In January, when Nazar returned, the numbers shifted subtly but meaningfully. He matched his December goal total while adding two assists in fewer games, with his average ice time climbing by more than three minutes per night. The production was still modest, but the involvement was no longer isolated.

That progress, however modest, is what makes the Olympic break so frustrating for Nazar. Younger players depend on the repetition to build comfort, especially after missing extended time, and he had just begun to regain rhythm at NHL pace. Instead of stacking games and turning involvement into consistency, the pause throws a monkey wrench in the whole operation.

When play resumes, the challenge for all players will be getting back into the flow of the game, but it will be particularly difficult for Nazar. The second half of the season may be less about improving on January's numbers and more about finally sustaining them without interruption.