The Chicago Blackhawks signed forward Frank Nazar to a seven-year contract extension on Thursday with a cap hit of $6.59 million per season. The contract doesn’t kick in until the 2026-27 season, as Nazar still has a year left on his entry-level deal. The hope — the expectation, really — is that he and Connor Bedard can be the Blackhawks’ 1-2 punch down the middle for the next decade or more.

For much of last season, Nazar was tantalizing but frustrating for the Blackhawks, all speed and slickness and scoring chances with little production to show for it. Then, the calendar turned to April, and the puck started going in. Nazar had five goals and four assists in eight games in April. He then went on to star for Team USA at the World Championships with team highs of six goals and six assists in 10 games as the Americans won the tournament for the first time since 1933.

“Frank elevated his game last season and has proven himself to be one of the top young talents in the league,” Blackhawks 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 was the No. 13 pick in the 2022 draft, with Davidson trading Kirby Dach to Montreal for the right to select Nazar. After a point-a-game sophomore season at the University of Michigan, Nazar joined the Blackhawks for three games at the end of the 2023-24 season, scoring one goal. He started last season with the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs but was called up in mid-December, shortly after head coach Luke Richardson was fired. Nazar started slowly, but thanks in large part to his dynamic finishing kick, he finished the season with 12 goals and 14 assists in 53 games.

“I want to play in Chicago for the rest of my life,” Nazar told The Athletic in June. “I think it’s a great city and a great team and a greater organization. So, if that’s an option and that’s something to set up, then I’m always willing to look into it and look at things. But I’ve been super grateful and happy with my time in Chicago so far, and I’d love to keep it going.”

By signing Nazar to a long-term deal now, the Blackhawks lock him in at a reasonable rate that could potentially be a massive bargain if Nazar keeps producing like he did in the spring, especially as the salary cap skyrockets in the coming years. Meanwhile, Nazar secures life-changing money without feeling the weight of a looming contract in what will be his first full NHL season.

For comparison’s sake, Colorado signed Nathan MacKinnon — to whom nobody is comparing Nazar to just yet — to a seven-year contract with a $6.3 million cap hit out of his entry-level deal, which proved to be one of the all-time, team-friendly deals as MacKinnon’s star rose. MacKinnon surely left a ton of money on the table in the long run, but at the time of the signing, he had yet to prove he was a superstar player. MacKinnon now carries a $12.6 million cap hit.

gutsy move by the Blackhawks to extend Nazar long-term this early into his career… but he already is showing signs of being able to play up to that $6million range and that should only trend up as he develops pic.twitter.com/cMJeuefVTl

— Shayna (@shaynagoldman_) August 21, 2025

Nazar’s signing does again raise the specter of Bedard’s next contract. Like Nazar, Bedard is entering the final year of his entry-level deal and is eligible to sign an extension at any point. Neither side appears to be in a rush, and neither side seems to be too worried.

“We have a great relationship and everyone knows I want to be a Hawk as long as I’m playing,” Bedard told The Athletic in June. “And I know they appreciate me and want me with the team. Once you know that, there’s no stress or anything about that. Whether it’s done next week or during the year or at the end of the year, that doesn’t stress me out too much.

“Anything can happen, but the relationship with me and the team is really strong.”

(Photo: Gregory Shamus / Getty Images)