Frank Nazar has been electrifying for the Rockford IceHogs in his rookie season, with 21 points in 17 games and counting. I sat down with him last week to talk about his hockey journey, his time at the University of Michigan, and his goals for the rest of the season.
Who Is Frank Nazar?
Drafted 13th overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2022, Frank Nazar is, in his own words, a player with a high motor and a big brain. After missing most of his freshman year at the University of Michigan due to injury, Nazar hit the ground running in his second (and final) year there, with 41 points in 41 games, before turning pro at the end of the NCAA hockey season and playing his first three NHL games with the Blackhawks (recording one assist in that time).
Nazar is one the smaller side for a hockey player, one of those speedy, undersized forwards that seem to be getting more and more popular. However, it doesn’t seem to be bothering him, and if you ask him, he has lofty heights for what he wants his game to be.
I obviously want to be my own player, but someone that i really want to model my game off of it brayden point, what he’s been able to do in his career has been unbelievable
Nazar on who he wanted to be when he grew up
Piglets Premier Performer
This year it’s been all IceHogs, as Nazar is leading the team in goals, assists and points, and though he’s third AHL wide in rookie scoring, he’s done it in fewer games than the players ahead of him (Mateychuk; Cleveland Monsters, and Graf; San Jose Barracuda), leading all rookies with 1.24 points per game. For context, last season’s rookie leading pts/game player, Logan Stankhoven, ran at a 1.21 points per game pace, with 57 in 47 games played. Currently, Nazar is on pace for 88 points in 71 games, 11 points higher than last season’s rookie leading scorer, Mavrik Borque.
More context? Last season’s leading scorer for the IceHogs was Brett Seney, who recorded 63 points in 68 games. Their leading rookie was Ethan Del Maestro, with 37 points in 69 games. If Nazar keeps this pace up, he could be the best rookie the IceHogs have ever seen, a record currently held by Lukas Reichel, who had 51 points for the IceHogs in his rookie season. It doesn’t seem farfetched to think that Nazar could smash that record by February, assuming he stays in Rockford all season. The Blackhawks are struggling, but they seem to be approaching prospect development slowly but surely; if they’re doing well in Rockford, leave them to simmer.
Obviously the end goal for Nazar is to be a Blackhawk, but if he breaks some Rockford records along the way? All the better.
Born And Raised In South Detroit
Nazar is a Michigan product through and through. Born in Detroit, he played his all his U18 hockey there, including two seasons with the prestigious USNTDP, where he recorded 71 points in 54 games in USHL play. From there, of course it was the University of Michigan. It couldn’t have been anywhere else.
I always wanted to play at the best organisation, the best place that’s going to help me succeed in later on in my career. Michigan was always number one.
Nazar was also drafted into the OHL for another premier organisation in the London Knights, and he had nothing but good things to say about the culture that the Hunter family have built there. The chance to be a Wolverine, though, was an easy choice for Nazar to make.
An Early Developmental Roadblock
The year after Nazar was drafted, he only played 13 games for the Wolverines, thanks to a knee injury that kept him off the ice for most of the year. It’s a tough blow for anyone, let alone someone freshly drafted, in his first year at a prestigious hockey program, and trying to make his mark.
it was tough at first, really tough. seeing all the other freshman playing and succeeding, it was hard.
Nazar, on his freshman year injury
This is where Michigan’s reputation comes from, however. Nazar couldn’t play. But that didn’t mean he couldn’t learn, couldn’t be a part of the team. He worked on his mental health, his nutrition, his time management; all the little things that help when you make the jump from NCAA to pro. He also worked closely with Michigan’s strength and conditioning coach while rehabbing his knee, and though it got heated at times (Nazar admitting that he got kicked out of the gym a couple of times for trying to do too much too fast), he’s grateful to the coaching staff for seeing him through a really hard year.
Every Day’s A School Day
Michigan has a reputation for a reason. Its alum rave about it as a school, and Nazar is no different.
Well, perhaps slightly different, as, unsually for a hockey player, Nazar loved his time in college both athletically and academically. He’s even considering taking a class next semester, to try and edge closer to his college degree. Many highly drafted players will leave college after a year or two, never to return. But Nazar has big plans to stay in school, even while he’s playing professional hockey, and hopes to get his degree long before he retires.
It’s the learning on the ice that will stick with Nazar as his career progresses though, and he credits a lot to Michigan’s Head Coach Brandon Naruto, and the rest of the staff there, especially as he made the jump to professional hockey.
Me and coach naruto talked every day. every single thing about my game improved when i was there.
Nazar on what he learned at Michigan
What Next?
The goal for Nazar, as it is with every young player, is to reach the best of the best; the NHL. But right now, it’s all Rockford for Nazar, as he continues to find his feet and improve day in, day out. He wants to specifically continue to improve his skating, specifically the evasiveness and quick changes of direction, to get even faster and less predictable in his attack. But, with five points in three games this most recent weekend, it seems like whatever Nazar’s working on, it’s going well for him and the team.
