Blackhawks sign Frank Nazar to seven-year contract extension

“Frank elevated his game last season and has proven himself to be one of the top young talents in the league,” General Manager Kyle Davidson said in a release. “He drives play using his elite speed and playmaking abilities, creating problems for opponents and opportunities for teammates every night. Frank is an integral piece of our team, and we’re thrilled to have him with us for the next eight seasons.”

Nazar has one more year remaining on his three-year, entry-level contract, which has an NHL AAV of $1.55 million and a minor-league salary of $82,500.

Nazar is coming off a very impressive first full season in professional hockey. After joining the Blackhawks for the final few games of the 2023-24 season after leaving the University of Michigan, the Detroit native started last year with the Rockford IceHogs, Chicago’s American Hockey League affiliate. After seemingly scoring at will in the minors, posting 24 points in 21 games with the IceHogs, Nazar was called up to the Blackhawks in mid-December and never looked back.

Even though he was on a team that finished dead last in the Central Division for the third year in a row, Nazar proved to be an exceptional offensive weapon. After posting just one assist in his first 10 games with the Hawks in 2024-25, he started to find his groove. The 21-year-old ended up scoring 12 goals and 14 assists for 26 points in 53 games, scoring a pair of game-winning goals as well. He registered a plus/minus of -11 while averaging just under 16 minutes of ice time per game.

Along with an impressive rookie campaign, Nazar went on to help his country on the world stage. With the United States at the 2025 IIHF Men’s World Championship, he finished tied for the team lead in scoring with Logan Cooley, with 12 points in 10 games. The duo were key in the U.S. winning its first gold medal in the tournament since 1933.

In his 56 games with the Blackhawks, Nazar has notched 13 goals and 27 points, with a career rating of -15. He was originally taken by Chicago in the first round, 13th overall, of the 2022 NHL Draft.