Frank Nazar extension is either genius or a disaster waiting to happen

There are multiple sides to what we can call the Frank Nazar debate. I can see what the Chicago Blackhawks are doing here, wanting to lock up a core piece for the long haul. On the surface, it's a fine move.

It looks like Kyle Davidson's doing something after a nonexistent offseason, or a near-nonexistent one. A seven-year, $46.19 million extension is sure to pump up a fanbase that's been relegated to watching one of the NHL's most boring and outclassed teams over the last five years.

But it comes with more risk than you can imagine, and that's why it's one of those signings I want to like, but see the massive pitfall here. Let's start with why the Frank Nazar extension looks like a good deal before we pick it apart with surgical precision.

The Frank Nazar extension has its clear-cut bright spots

Extending Frank Nazar gives the Hawks two youngsters all but guaranteed to be part of their long-term vision, with Alex Vlasic being the other. You can also, to a degree, count in Ryan Donato, even if he's on for fewer seasons and is older.

Secondly, Nazar's on for a generous AAV of just $6.599,991, meaning this one didn't break the bank. And for seven seasons? You can't beat it.

Finally, Nazar's shown potential, finishing last season with 26 points and 12 goals in 53 contests. Not bad for a player who saw his first taste of extended ice time in the league after making just three appearances in 2023-24.

Signing Nazar to an extension now also means the Hawks are paying him with a generous compensation starting next season no matter what he does this year.

Should Nazar finish 2025-26 with 60-70 points and the Hawks didn't sign him now, they'd be looking at something between $8 and $9 million, if not more. And that could lead to compromises for other core players down the road.

Signing Nazar could be well worth the risk, but...

Signing someone to a seven-year extension without even playing a full season? This is why I did a double-take when I first read the news. Had to be a typo, right?

While I said, "Well, at least they didn't overpay," Kyle Davidson still signed someone to an extension who's not even a proven player.

When I was primarily writing about the Buffalo Sabres in 2022-23, Kevyn Adams signed Dylan Cozens to a long-term deal. But at least Cozens, at the time, was enjoying a career season.

Cozens never lived to that contract's expectations, and the Sabres pawned him off to Ottawa at last season's trade deadline. As for Nazar, with no full season and, therefore, no dominant campaigns, Davidson landed in unnecessary risk territory.

Overall, I can see where the Hawks were going with this, and I'm not calling it a bad decision. But personally, I wouldn't have signed him yet.

Even if it meant paying him two or three million more per season if he hit the 60-70-point threshold, that would've been fine by me. It's more money, but at least I'd feel much better about the investment.

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