The Chicago Blackhawks locked up another key part of their future on Thursday afternoon, signing forward Frank Nazar to a seven-year, $46,199,937 contract extension.
Nazar was the 13th overall pick back in 2022 and has a ton of potential, clearly viewed as a building block by general manager Kyle Davidson.
While he flashed some of what’s to come last season, many around the league have been questioning the decision to hand Nazar such a lucrative deal, given his only 56 games of NHL experience.
However, NHL insider Frank Seravalli is not one of them, emphasizing how savvy a move this was by the Blackhawks during an appearance on CHSN.
“I would describe it as an incredibly smart wager. I mean, if you look at what Frank Nazar was able to produce in the second half of last season. Not only was he the Chicago Blackhawks’ best and most noticeable player up front, but I’d say he outpaced Connor Bedard and certainly played better in a lot of key areas,” Seravalli said.
“I look at this deal and I say what a smart play by the Blackhawks. One, you’ve got this clear talent that you know what he is. He’s a definable quality that you can point to and say the work rate, the effort, the competitiveness, the skill, the high-end nature of his game. He’s exactly what the Hawks need in their top six… I think that in year one of his contract in 2026-27, Frank Nazar is already going to be playing at a $6.6 million level. I think you’re going to be seeing significant value relative to cap. I don’t think it’s outside of the realm of possibility that Frank Nazar, within a very short period of time, is playing at a $10 million a year level,” Seravalli added.
“I would describe it as an incredible wager.”@frank_seravalli further discusses Frank Nazar’s 7-year, $6.59 million AAV extension with the Blackhawks. #ChicagoLead pic.twitter.com/hLkdfhXzox
— Blackhawks on CHSN (@CHSN_Blackhawks) August 22, 2025
Nazar finished with 12 goals and 14 assists for 26 points in 53 games played in 2024-25, with nine of those coming in the final eight games of the season.
Is a Connor Bedard extension up next?
Now that a long-term extension for Frank Nazar has been settled, the Chicago Blackhawks’ focus shifts to the face of the franchise, Connor Bedard.
The 20-year-old is entering the final season of his three-year, $2.85 million entry-level contract and became extension eligible on July 1.
It’s been relatively quiet on the Bedard front thus far, and you can understand why, given the way his first two seasons in the NHL have gone. It makes for an incredibly important and interesting year for the 2023 first overall pick, with a lot on the line regarding his future.
