Frank Nazar, Blackhawks Agree to 7-Year, $46.2M Contract Extension

The Chicago Blackhawks agreed to a seven-year extension worth around $46.2 million with forward Frank Nazar, the team announced Thursday.

Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman noted the payout is the most ever for a player with just 56 NHL appearances under his belt.

The Blackhawks initially teased the deal on social media:

"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. "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 had 12 goals and 14 assists over 53 games in 2024-25. It was an impressive return from a player who only turned 21 in January.

Chicago remains firmly in the midst of its rebuild. Its 61 points were the fewest in the Central Division and second-worst in the entire NHL.

The presence of Connor Bedard at least points to a bright future as the 2023 No. 1 overall pick has been worthy of the massive hype he had coming into the league. Between Bedard and Nazar, the Blackhawks may have the core of their attack moving forward.

There's no question Davidson is taking a risk with this contract. Nazar is so early into is career there's no telling where he winds up.

But an average salary of almost $6.6 million ranks 83rd among forwards, and it will only fall farther down that list as the salary cap climbs.

Being this proactive could pay off in a big way for Davidson and give him a lot of cap flexibility.

Nazar, meanwhile, will become an unrestricted free agent in 2033 when he's 29. If he continues along his current trajectory, he should be able to get a much bigger payout down the road to make up for what looks like a pretty team-friendly deal now.