FEATURE: Nazar Eager to Make an Impact in Sophomore Season at Michigan

After missing the majority of freshman year due to injury, Blackhawks 2022 first-round pick Frank Nazar now looks forward to a stronger sophomore season at the University of Michigan.

The 19-year-old forward suffered a lower body injury before the start of the NCAA season that required surgery. However, he still found his way back to the ice late in the year to help the University of Michigan throughout the Big Ten and NCAA tournaments.

"It was pretty hard coming back and just fitting right in," Nazar said earlier this summer. "But I think I was able to do pretty well when I was able to come back for the playoffs and it definitely helped just to the confidence side of it."

Nazar made his Michigan debut on Feb. 10 against Michigan State and scored his first goal the next day. Due to his injury, he only played in 13 games but recorded two goals and five assists in that span.

After a lengthy absence, he says he felt stronger in each game played to help the Wolverines capture their second straight Big Ten Tournament title and advancement to the Frozen Four before the team's loss to Quinnipiac in the Frozen Four.

"I feel really good now," Nazar said. "Throughout the season that I was able to play, I felt like I got better and better [in each game that I played] and I was happy that I was able to help the team at that time in the year. I'm glad I was able to get those games in."

While it was unknown if the 5-foot-10 center would get to take the ice in his first year, he tried to find positive outlets to keep him motivated, focusing on were the mental side of the game to prepare himself when he returned to the ice.

"[I was able] to figure out like, how to use my brain and kind of keep my head in the game and just get better," Nazar said. "I know that I'll figure things out and I think that's definitely a step forward that I took."

With a boost of confidence and a new look on how to train off the ice, the 2022 first round pick joined other top Blackhawks prospects at this year's development camp that put a main emphasis on off-ice training.

For him, the week in Chicago allowed him to not only build new mental skills and different workout routines but also learn more about other Blackhawks draft selections from different junior leagues.

"I definitely think [they did development camp] right this year," Nazar said. "I like how we're kind of more focusing on just getting [to know] the faces on the team and with the guys around the building, so I think they made a right choice."

After the week-long development camp, Nazar joined fellow prospects Sam Rinzel, Gavin Hayes and Oliver Moore at the 2023 World Junior Summer Showcase with USA Hockey. They took part in the evaluation camp in hopes to make the roster for the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship in December, and Nazar impressed.

As he prepares to start his sophomore season in the fall, he looks forward to building a strong foundation for not only his game but with his fellow Wolverines teammates.

"Now it's kind of just building up and this year hopefully we will get the job done," Nazar said. "I think we'll have a good squad and obviously I have to go into camp and show I can make the team but I'm really excited for that and there's a lot of motivation going behind it."