Chicago Blackhawks center Frank Nazar continues to impress this year. After being called up in mid-December, Nazar rattled off 26 points in 53 games.
His 12 goals and 14 assists has provided hope that he will be a key piece of the Hawks next good team.
He only keeps giving more reasons that he will be a vital player for the Blackhawks with how he is playing for Team USA in the IIHF World Championships.
Nazar is off to a hot start with four points in the first two games.
The Hawks' 2022 first-round pick registered an assist in Team USA's tournament opening game against Denmark. He picked up his first assist on the American's fourth goal in a 5-0 rout.
Nazar was even better in USA's 6-0 rout of Hungary.
Nazar scored two goals and picked up an assist. He kicked off the route with those two goals coming in the first period.
Nazar is one of seven players leading the tournament in points with four. His Hawks teammate, defenseman Alex Vlasic, had a nice showing against Hungary with two assists.
Those two have thriving NHL careers are critical to the Blackhawks' success as Connor Bedard cannot win on his own. He needs a reliable peer who can provide elite play in the top six, and Nazar has shown flashes of being that player. Vlasic continues to ascend into one of the better top-pair defenders.
Vlasic has already showcased that he will be one of the core players the team moves forward with. Nazar struggled in training camp and had to spend 21 games in Rockford before finally getting a runway to show what he can do.
He was impressive to the point that it is fair to wonder if the Hawks would have won more games had he been called up sooner.
However, the team was sluggish to start the season and Bedard was regressing. Once Luke Richardson was fired as head coach, then Bedard started to play better again. Plus, it can never hurt to ease a player into the NHL than rush him up.
Skating in these extra games against some talented international competition, hopefully gives Nazar confidence that he can be an elite player in the NHL.
