Prospect Info: (F) Frank Nazar - 2022 NHL Draft, 13th Overall

[ello]

Not to call you out specifically but Ive watched every minute of the WJC for the Americans and I’m not sure how you could come away with he had limited puck touches and passive high skill. If anything he is the opposite. Has the puck on his stick a lot and is always engaged.

He plays center, works hard in the corners, hits, slashes, whacks. Plays PK1. Net front and bumper on the PP. He plays a bit like a smaller Kesler when he is on. His game against Latvia was a bit dull, but he was the highest game scored player on the team through every game but that one.

Wrong games maybe. I saw him mainly taking advantage of space opened up by Brindley and Howard (who both play PP over him) and beating up on lower end competition. He was head and shoulders above Howard as a prospect in 2022 and now is seems like the gap has closed considerably. He's not on the power play at all when the team is healthy which is a bit confusing considering how many points he has and that he's one of the older players on the team. PKing at this level is meh for me, doesn't help me project a player at all.

Hopefully im wrong, ill be watching every minute of the medal rounds. He set the bar so high for me during the summer camp.

 

[TLEH]

Wrong games maybe. I saw him mainly taking advantage of space opened up by Brindley and Howard (who both play PP over him) and beating up on lower end competition. He was head and shoulders above Howard as a prospect in 2022 and now is seems like the gap has closed considerably. He's not on the power play at all when the team is healthy which is a bit confusing considering how many points he has and that he's one of the older players on the team. PKing at this level is meh for me, doesn't help me project a player at all.

Hopefully im wrong, ill be watching every minute of the medal rounds. He set the bar so high for me during the summer camp.

Passive skill players don’t PK was my point.

 

[ello]

Passive skill players don’t PK was my point.

Fair enough. I guess I meant passive more from a visual standpoint of not driving the line, from what I saw.

 

[TLEH]

His production tailed off a bit at the end of the tourney but his line was the best of the entire tournament for the Gold winning Americans. He played hard today and showed off his change of pace well. I still think he is a bit wasteful at times and can learn to shoot more, but he looks healthy which is great.

 

[hawksfan50]

Well I think we all wanted hom to be more assertive...especially in shooting...You cannot score goals if you do not shoot a lot ...He did work hard and flashed speed.. I give him that and he is despite his size quite physical and greasy. And he forechecked well and battled hard on the boards ..but the bottom line is that as 19 yr old in tournament where 19 yr old usually excel for their teams ,he was just ok...did NOT 'star" or emerge as a dominant force with goal impact as others did (both 18 and 19 yr olds) on theteam

It is true that he did some of the subtle things like screening goalies (though hevis small in height) which helped others on his shifts score some goals)..but this type of play is what we call complimentary ...not primary starring for the team.
So you can say hexwas good but not great or you could say he deferred to others and let them be the Stars... he stepped back to the mere helper role..thiscisxfine bit not realkyvwhatvyou need to see ina 13th overall draft pick.. He needed to step up and take over a game ..instead hexwas merely a good support role guy.

 

[MTU34]

Even when he wasn’t on the scoresheet later on in the tournament it was easy to see he plays an effective game. Great motor, hard on pucks, and a very strong two way game. I still see a lot of Brayden Point in his game

 

[TLEH]

Some numbers to back up my eye test.

 

[hawksfan50]

So he "looked good" but the finish was MISSING... All flssh no cash unless you ...you know...beat goalies to "star" on the goal sheet.

 

[giza]

Let Nazar set up Bedard for 60 goals in the next couple of years and his "finish" won't really matter.

 

[Ace Card Bedard]

I watched 3 of the US games.
In those three Nazar made plays all over the ice, he just didn't shoot very much.

He reads the developing plays very well.
Smart? check
Good skater? check
Good effort level? check
Talent? check

I'm not saying he'll be a star but he has the tools to be a good NHLer.

 

[hawksfan50]

Do you think Hawks sign Nazar for next season or let him marinate force more yearxat Michigan?

 

[TLEH]

Do you think Hawks sign Nazar for next season or let him marinate force more yearxat Michigan?

I think Casey and Rutger sign, which pushes Nazar to sign.

I watched 3 of the US games.
In those three Nazar made plays all over the ice, he just didn't shoot very much.

He reads the developing plays very well.
Smart? check
Good skater? check
Good effort level? check
Talent? check

I'm not saying he'll be a star but he has the tools to be a good NHLer.

He doesn't scream star to me when I watch, but he does scream winner.

 

[Kevin Musto]

He doesn't scream star to me when I watch, but he does scream winner.

Hardest trait to find in a player

 

[TLEH]

Hardest trait to find in a player

I tend to agree. A lot of guys have what it takes talent wise, but less have what it takes effort wise.

Too often you see talented players not willing to pay the price, and guys willing to pay the price with no talent. Nazar is that mixture of both.

 

[Cold Steel on Ice]

Schmaltz lite.Fast skills pass first type.Should help our putrid powerplay eventually.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Do you think Hawks sign Nazar for next season or let him marinate force more yearxat Michigan?

He will probably sign. 2 years is pretty standard for college 1st round picks if they develop decently well. Maybe splits some time NHL/AHL unless he really impresses and manages to stick.

 

[u2wojo]

He will probably sign. 2 years is pretty standard for college 1st round picks if they develop decently well. Maybe splits some time NHL/AHL unless he really impresses and manages to stick.

Agree. You might get a drafted D to stay 3 years in college, but a first round forward is a year or 2 generallly. Playing against men in at least the AHL is the correct move for season 3 after the draft. As devoid of forward talent as the Hawks are at the AHL level (even before the injuries forced callups), I would be surprised to see Nazar spend much if any time in Rockford (barring signing like 5 or 6 NHL level forwards in free agency).

 

[Larmer83]

Schmaltz lite.Fast skills pass first type.Should help our putrid powerplay eventually.

Schmaltz never had the compete level of Nazar.

 

[DisgruntledHawkFan]

Schmaltz lite.Fast skills pass first type.Should help our putrid powerplay eventually.

Schmaltz with heart would be a hell of a player.

 

[TLEH]

He's more Trocheck than Schmaltz. Either way he's fun to watch and a play driver. He's become one of my favorites.

 

[belfour30]

He's more Trocheck than Schmaltz. Either way he's fun to watch and a play driver. He's become one of my favorites.

Ooh, Trocheck is probably a really good comp.

 

[Space umpire]

Bedard should move to wing if we get Celebrini.. Nazar coukd cebter the 2nd line..
Bedard is the worst of 3 defensively and on draws..
Brdard isctge worst of the3 attacking right down the middle of the ice.

Bedard is Not having an easy time entering thevo-zone right up the middle.. Too many NHL team defenseman and checkers at the line are veering him off or taking puck off him middle rushes. I think the far greater speed of Celebrini and Nazarwould back them off instead of being ablevro stop middle rushes at the line.

Bedard is not that fast compared to Nazar and Celebrini.

But Nazar has not proven hehas a special shot or maybe any NJL finishiing shot...And if middle rush does not beat a goalie from a shot or deke he subsequently makes after entering o-zone ,it coukd lead to gettibg caught deep and watching transition the other way...not worried if that happens on a Celebrini middle rush because he always hustles and back-checks..

Anyway thinking I had to move 1 to winger ot woukd be Bedard.

I get it, you don’t like Bedard. You’ve made it obvious. We are all in for 10/15 years of you bashing any error or misplay just as you did with Kane.
Defending, he will never be a standout and many say he doesn’t try hard. I’ll say from our blue line to the opponents net the puck is on his stick 3/4 of the time. You probably wouldn’t realize it but that expends a lot of energy.
Faceoffs. Give it some time. The kid is strong but (speaking in general) you can’t compare an 18 yr old boys muscles to a grown man’s. Give him a tutor and combined with his strength and low center of gravity I’d put my money on him being somewhat dominant at faceoffs.
Questioning his attacking up the center of the ice raises questions of your hockey IQ. Defender can send guys at him because he has no options. Look at the “jaw breaker” play, Smith was the 2nd opponent to play him within 2 seconds and a 3rd guy is right there as well. If he had 1st liner level wingers there would be 2 open guys to feed before the hit. He’s playing on a line with a 3rd and a 4th liner and always vs the oppositions best.

 

[Malaka]

Ooh, Trocheck is probably a really good comp.

His comp I thought when drafted was Kadri-esque without the shithead shenanigans.

 

[clydesdale line]

How Blackhawks prospect Frank Nazar impacted USA's World Junior Championship run

Nazar's play at the world juniors is a great sign that he is back to playing at an elite level after last season's hip surgery.

theathletic.com

Great Powers article about Nazar.

 

[TLEH]

Seriously think there should be questions to his coach at Michigan about his usage. TJ Hughes centers the 2nd line and plays PP1. Nazar should definitely be getting more usage.