F Frank Nazar (2022, 13th, CHI)

[abj]

Nazar-Bedard good pair.

 

[HawksDub89]

I like that decision from management. Let your young guys grow into their roles.

Nazar's game is perfectly adapted to be an impact middle 6 center in today's NHL. Blackhawks have acquired a nice group of young centers from the first round in the last 3 drafts:

Bedard 5'10
Nazar 5'9
Moore 5'11
Boisvert 6'2

Some might question their size down the middle, but I'm personally not too concerned about that here. These guys have the talent to overcome that (the Lightning just won back to back cups with Brayden Point being their 2nd biggest center).

Bedard is obviously going to be an elite scorer, and the latter 3 all of the potential to be legitimate 2Cs in the NHL with well rounded games. I'd expect to see at least one of those 4 to be converted to wing full time - Bedard might make the most sense with his offensive ability and weak 200 foot game. Let one of the other speedier guys worry about defending down low.

I could foresee a 2026-27 roster looking something like the below, which is looking potentially pretty deep even without adding in any UFAs:

Bertuzzi - Nazar - Bedard
Reichel - Moore - Teravainen
Kurashev - Boisvert - Vanacker
Slaggert - Dickinson - Dach
Kantserov, Lardis, Misiak

Vlasic - Levshunov
Korchinski - Jones
Del Maestro - Rinzel
Kaiser, Allen

Commesso
Gajan
UFA

This team is shaping up to be an absolute wagon. Hawks have an embarrassment of riches. Davidson has done a terrific job.

Plus whoever they draft in the top 5 next year.

I think Nazar eventually moves to wing and Moore/Boisvert/2025 pick becomes the 2C.

We’ll see, but I do agree KD has done a nice job thus far.

 

[Hattrick Kane]

Rebuild is still ongoing. We’ll see what the forward core looks like a few years down the road.

They’ll also have one of the biggest Dcores so I’m not too worried.

 

[Larmer83]

I like that decision from management. Let your young guys grow into their roles.

Nazar's game is perfectly adapted to be an impact middle 6 center in today's NHL. Blackhawks have acquired a nice group of young centers from the first round in the last 3 drafts:

Bedard 5'10
Nazar 5'9
Moore 5'11
Boisvert 6'2

Some might question their size down the middle, but I'm personally not too concerned about that here. These guys have the talent to overcome that (the Lightning just won back to back cups with Brayden Point being their 2nd biggest center).

Bedard is obviously going to be an elite scorer, and the latter 3 all of the potential to be legitimate 2Cs in the NHL with well rounded games. I'd expect to see at least one of those 4 to be converted to wing full time - Bedard might make the most sense with his offensive ability and weak 200 foot game. Let one of the other speedier guys worry about defending down low.

I could foresee a 2026-27 roster looking something like the below, which is looking potentially pretty deep even without adding in any UFAs:

Bertuzzi - Nazar - Bedard
Reichel - Moore - Teravainen
Kurashev - Boisvert - Vanacker
Slaggert - Dickinson - Dach
Kantserov, Lardis, Misiak

Vlasic - Levshunov
Korchinski - Jones
Del Maestro - Rinzel
Kaiser, Allen

Commesso
Gajan
UFA

This team is shaping up to be an absolute wagon. Hawks have an embarrassment of riches. Davidson has done a terrific job.

On the Hawks board, I often have to ask about the prospect perpetually under the radar- Ryan Greene?

 

[Mrb1p]

No amount of skill is going to stop the hawks from getting crunched in the playoffs. As we have seen time and time again skill + size and physicality trumps skill but small players. That’s just way too small of a forward group imo. Even in their primes if that group of forwards went up against this years panthers they’d get obliterated.

Yes, as we've seen with Tampa Bay never winning anything with their core of Kucherov, Point, Palat, Gourde, Stamkos and Johnson.

 

[LemonSauceD]

I like that decision from management. Let your young guys grow into their roles.

Nazar's game is perfectly adapted to be an impact middle 6 center in today's NHL. Blackhawks have acquired a nice group of young centers from the first round in the last 3 drafts:

Bedard 5'10
Nazar 5'9
Moore 5'11
Boisvert 6'2

Some might question their size down the middle, but I'm personally not too concerned about that here. These guys have the talent to overcome that (the Lightning just won back to back cups with Brayden Point being their 2nd biggest center).

Bedard is obviously going to be an elite scorer, and the latter 3 all of the potential to be legitimate 2Cs in the NHL with well rounded games. I'd expect to see at least one of those 4 to be converted to wing full time - Bedard might make the most sense with his offensive ability and weak 200 foot game. Let one of the other speedier guys worry about defending down low.

I could foresee a 2026-27 roster looking something like the below, which is looking potentially pretty deep even without adding in any UFAs:

Bertuzzi - Nazar - Bedard
Reichel - Moore - Teravainen
Kurashev - Boisvert - Vanacker
Slaggert - Dickinson - Dach
Kantserov, Lardis, Misiak

Vlasic - Levshunov
Korchinski - Jones
Del Maestro - Rinzel
Kaiser, Allen

Commesso
Gajan
UFA

This team is shaping up to be an absolute wagon. Hawks have an embarrassment of riches. Davidson has done a terrific job.

That lineup doesn’t look anything spectacular to me. Pretty unremarkable actually after Bedard/Nazar/Moore. Undersized center group. No real threat on the wings and again lacking size. Assuming Bedard and Moore are the top 2 centers.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

That lineup doesn’t look anything spectacular to me. Pretty unremarkable actually after Bedard/Nazar/Moore. Undersized center group. No real threat on the wings and again lacking size. Assuming Bedard and Moore are the top 2 centers.

They may be a bit undersized but they are going to score a lot of goals IMO. And don't overlook Reichel, he's going to bounce back in a big way very soon. Boisvert is gonna be a great player as well.

But it's really the D core that stands out. Vlasic is already a high end shut down dman, Levshunov is gonna be great, Korchinski is a solid PMD. Rinzel, Del Maestro looking like promising top 4 dmen.

 

[LemonSauceD]

They may be a bit undersized but they are going to score a lot of goals IMO. And don't overlook Reichel, he's going to bounce back in a big way very soon. Boisvert is gonna be a great player as well.

But it's really the D core that stands out. Vlasic is already a high end shut down dman, Levshunov is gonna be great, Korchinski is a solid PMD. Rinzel, Del Maestro looking like promising top 4 dmen.

For sure. EDM, Levs, Vlasic, Rinzel, big d core.

 

[Sacha BOXviert]

On the Hawks board, I often have to ask about the prospect perpetually under the radar- Ryan Greene?

Greene is one of the most underrated Hawks prospects. Complete Center with a very projectable NHL game, 2C or 3C

 

[TLEH]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1852911504976171113

He’s a great board player, plays really tough for his size. Has had a great start to his AHL season. I think he’ll be up soon.

 

[Skinnyjimmy08]

Let him do his thing in the minors all year. No rush at all getting him up with the Hawks this season IMO.

I always love teams allowing their top prospects to have a full season in the AHL to allow them to build confidence at the pro level

 

[Blackhawkswincup]

Nazar with 2 goals tonight

12 games
7 goals
8 assists
15 pts

Kid should be up with Hawks at this point but because team mismanaged Korchinski situation last year they are going to punish kids

 

[CallMeShaft]

Nazar with 2 goals tonight

12 games
7 goals
8 assists
15 pts

Kid should be up with Hawks at this point but because team mismanaged Korchinski situation last year they are going to punish kids

Should be mentioned that Nazar has 4 more points in 1 less game than the 2nd best player on the team points wise (Colton Dach).

 

[Hattrick Kane]

It’s hilarious how much the coach hated him in Michigan. Probably could have helped in the big games if he was used properly.

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

Nazar with 2 goals tonight

12 games
7 goals
8 assists
15 pts

Kid should be up with Hawks at this point but because team mismanaged Korchinski situation last year they are going to punish kids

OR, playing with Rockford is a more positive experience than being with the Blackhawks at the moment. Eight of the 11 top scorers for the IceHogs are 22 or younger. Allowing them to grow together, playing in all situations, bodes well for the future.

 

[Kevin27NYI]

Nazar with 2 goals tonight

12 games
7 goals
8 assists
15 pts

Kid should be up with Hawks at this point but because team mismanaged Korchinski situation last year they are going to punish kids

I feel like you can’t be critical of both keeping a guy up when he shouldn’t be and also critical of letting a guy develop in the A.

 

[MHO]

I feel like you can’t be critical of both keeping a guy up when he shouldn’t be and also critical of letting a guy develop in the A.

Well 2 conflicting things can be true at the same time as every player is different. I don't necessarily feel this way but I feel like it is fair to say that Korchinski shouldn't have played in the NHL last year and needs more seasoning in the minors and Nazar should be playing in the NHL now because he's ready.

 

[Kevin27NYI]

Well 2 conflicting things can be true at the same time as every player is different. I don't necessarily feel this way but I feel like it is fair to say that Korchinski shouldn't have played in the NHL last year and needs more seasoning in the minors and Nazar should be playing in the NHL now because he's ready.

I agree too, just thought it was funny. But it’s two months in the A, get him in January after more seasoning.

 

[ColbyChaos]

Bring up Nazar for the WC make the inevitable loss at least watchable and send him back down after unless he forced their hand

 

[WarriorofTime]

Nazar wasn't too good in the preseason. He's playing an all situations 1st line role in the AHL. He's doing well. He will get his chance, probably soon, doesn't need to be getting caved in at the NHL right now. Playing 12 games in the AHL isn't a punishment.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

Nazar wasn't too good in the preseason. He's playing an all situations 1st line role in the AHL. He's doing well. He will get his chance, probably soon, doesn't need to be getting caved in at the NHL right now. Playing 12 games in the AHL isn't a punishment.

I don't see the rush , he should play the full season there , or at least the majority , throw him a bone near the deadline if they move guys out