Frank Nazar Brings Excitement to the Blackhawks' Prospect Core

The Frank Nazar era at the University of Michigan has finally begun. In just his second collegiate game, against rival Michigan State, Nazar scored on a turnover by the Spartans. With a quick move and high corner shot, Nazar got his first point of what should be an outstanding career at Michigan. He was also on the ice for the game winning goal in OT by Luke Hughes.

Due to time off from injury, the expectation should be that Nazar will play his sophmore year as well. What he brings is clear: speed and puck skill. These are two traits that the Blackhawks have sorely lacked in recent years. Even with Kirby Dach, drafted 3rd overall in 2019, there wasn't the speed or passing skill that Frank Nazar has displayed at an early stage of his development.

Not since Patrick Kane has Chicago had a true forward with this type of skill that looks translative to the modern NHL game. Lukas Reichel (2020), Alex DeBrincat (2016), Nick Schmaltz (2014), and Ryan Hartman (2013) and some of the higher picked players in the last 10 drafts that would be picks that showed management tried to add a true skill player to the roster. Still, none of those players showed this type of center ice speed.

Will Nazar ascend quickly? We will see, but it's exciting to know that the Blackhawks have at least 1 gamebreaking prospect already in the pipeline.