NEWSLETTER
On Thursday night, Frank Nazar‘s sophomore season at the University of Michigan came to a close when the Wolverines were shut-out 4-0 by Boston College at the Frozen Four. For his night, Nazar put two shots on net and won 8 of 12 faceoffs with a blocked shot. A decent night when you consider his team left a doughnut on the scoreboard.
Honestly, there were a lot of Blackhawks fans who were rooting for Michigan to get knocked out much earlier in the tournament. He’s a flashy skill guy who can make ridiculous things happen with the puck and, after watching an offensively challenged Blackhawks team for a couple years, that’s exciting.
The loss to Boston College on Thursday night now makes it decision-making season for Nazar. Does he want to run it back at Michigan for a junior year? Or is he ready to take his talent to the professional ranks?
Not Now (well, RIGHT now)
The first thing we should all keep in mind is if Nazar decides to turn pro, there is no way on the good Lord’s Earth that he should appear in a Blackhawks game this season. Zero. None. Wasting the first year of his entry-level contract for 2-3 games would feel like malpractice; it would also put him on the same RFA timeline as Connor Bedard and Kevin Korchinski. So let’s throw that one in the trash can. If Nazar does sign, the deal will begin next season (with a potential ATO in Rockford to finish this season if he wants that).
Nazar, who I ranked the No. 1 prospect in the Blackhawks’ system (rocket science, I know), had a good enough sophomore year that I would like to see him turn pro.
I say that fully accepting that there are elements of his game that he will need to work on next year. Remember, he missed almost all of his freshman year because of an injury. So coming back with 17 goals and 41 points in 41 games in a really good, tough Big Ten Conference this year was very impressive. He also won 55 percent of his faceoffs this season, which is impressive for a guy who isn’t the biggest center. That’s good enough that there needs to be a conversation about him staying at center in the pro ranks when he signs.
Nazar has shown the ability to play up and down a lineup and with different types of players both at Michigan and at the World Junior Championship, where he added 8 assists in 7 games to his ledger for this “season” as a whole.
Wolverines, Hawks or Hogs?
There is no guarantee that, if Nazar turns pro, he’s in Chicago to start next season. In the past, that may have felt like a huge disappointment or failed project because the previous front office in Chicago showed absolutely no regard for any value Rockford could provide; they used it to store guys because of cap issues or potential replacements in case of injury, not as a development tool for the organization.
That isn’t the case now. All you need to do is look at how much Alex Vlasic improved after spending almost a full year in Rockford to see the impact it can make. But also consider how much better Wyatt Kaiser looked when he came back up late this season. And, now, we’re going to get a look at Ethan Del Mastro as well.
Time in Rockford wouldn’t be a knock on Nazar; it would be a good thing. And it might be a better thing that another collegiate season for him in the long run.
The Michigan team that was eliminated last night isn’t going to be back next year. Guys like Rutger McGroarty and Gavin Brindley are almost certainly turning pro this summer. Seamus Casey might bounce, too. Yes, the Wolverines have a really good recruiting class coming in that includes Michael Hage of the Chicago Steel, but there’s a good chance the top shelf guys at Michigan take the bag and move on to the next level.
I’m sure we’ll find out soon whether or not we’ll be watching Nazar in maize and blue or red and black in October.
