Frank Nazar's rollercoaster year proved he's ready to be a core piece of the Chicago Blackhawks' rebuild

Frank Nazar was just five minutes away from missing his NHL debut — and it had nothing to do with hockey. After deciding to sign with the Chicago Blackhawks following the Michigan Wolverines' Frozen Four run, he realized his roommate's printer was out of ink. With the deadline nearing, he had to find a way to sign his contract and get it done before 4:00 p.m. Luckily, he made it just in time for his NHL debut the following day. Nazar described this process as a "whirlwind."

Since that crazy start, Nazar has quickly become one of the most promising and core young pieces in the Blackhawks' rebuild. From scoring in his first NHL game to helping Team USA capture gold at the World Championship, his past year has been a breeze. It's flown by just like that. Now, with a seven-year contract in hand in his first full season with the Blackhawks, he is focused on taking the next step — not just for himself, but to help the Blackhawks return to the playoffs.

Just days before his debut, Nazar was playing with the Michigan Wolverines in the 2024 Frozen Four. Unfortuantely, the Wolverines' season came to a heartbreaking end with a 4-0 shutout loss to the BC Eagles in the semifinals. The loss stung, but within hours, Frank Nazar had to decide whether he wanted to continue playing college hockey or go pro.

"I really wanted to focus on where I was at with Michigan," Nazar said. "We had a great team, great chemistry, and I wanted to do everything I could to help us win. But once the season ended, it became about figuring out what was best for me — and for my career."

Nazar received phone calls, conversations, and text messages following that decision. One day, he was surrounded by his teammates in Ann Arbor. He packed a suit, toothbrush, and headed to Chicago. By Sunday, he was skating at United Center — scoring his first NHL goal in front of family and friends.

"It was pretty much everything I dreamed of," Nazar said. "Having all my family there, scoring in my first game — it's something none of us will ever forget."

The jump from college to the NHL isn't easy, but Nazar didn't let that lose his confidence. After being called up from Rockford in December 2024, the numbers didn't reflect his effort and skills. He had one point in his first ten games, but he didn't give up.

"I wasn't discouraged," he said. "If you go back and watch, I was getting chances every game. Once you figure out the goalies, the pace, and the space, things start to click."

And they did just that. Nazar finished the season with nine points in his final ten games, helping the Blackhawks close out the 2024-25 season on a high note.

He then carried that momentum into the spring, leading Team USA in points and winning a gold medal at the World Championship. FUN FACT: That was the first IIHF World Championship for the Americans in more than 90 years.

"Definitely a huge part of my decision of going to Worlds and to put on that USA jersey, like how can you say no? Also, I wanted to get used to playing more games after the season ended," he said. "And playing extra games and getting used to that feeling of playing more than 82 helped being able to end the season strong and keep it rolling."

Inside the Blackhawks' locker room, the leadership dynamic is chance — not through a "passing of the torch," as Nazar says, but through teamwork. Veterans like Nick Foligno still set the standard for the team, but the next wave of players is starting to have their own voice as the team goes through its rebuild.

"Our more veteran and older leaders have done an amazing job of kind of showing the role and teaching us and helping us through things and throughout the season," Nazar said. "It's not about taking over; it's about being included. Guys like me, Connor [Bedard], and the younger group are getting involved in team meetings and culture. That's how you build chemistry."

That bond is certainly working out well for Nazar and Bedard.

Nazar and Bedard, who met at development camp, have grown close both on and off the ice. They compte in every drill, joke around, and send each other funny videos. A balance of both work and fun for Nazar.

"Even in some of the dumbest drills that we're doing or there's not even any scoring or it's just like keep away," Nazar said. "It's like you see guys like getting mad and you know, we want to win and we want to compete, that's what makes coming to the rink fun every day is going out there and pushing each other to get better and competing in even the smallest things. And I think that leads to on the ice competing in every battle and in every stoppage, faceoff, anything. You could see it now. It's everyone competing out there on the ice, and especially with Blash, if you're lose, you're skating. No one wants to skate extra. We want to win."

This summer, the Blackhawks showed how much they believe in the impact Nazar would bring by signing him to a seven-year extension — a commitment that still gives him chills when he talks about it.

"It's hard to put into words," he said. "You grow up dreaming about playing in the NHL, and able to see that happen with an organization like Chicago — it's unreal. I'm here for seven years, and you're going to get my best every day."

Now entering his first full season in the league, Nazar will look to live up to the Blackhawks' standard and bring the speed, skill, and energy to their lineup.

When asked about his future, Nazar doesn't shy away from thinking big.

"It's something we all talk about," he said. "Late at night, we'll joke or dream about how awesome it would be to win here one day. That's the goal. That's what drives us."