Frank Nazar signed a seven-year, $46.13 million contract with the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday. The contract, which has an average annual value of $6.59 million, will begin in 2026-27.
The 21-year-old forward had 26 points (12 goals, 14 assists) in 53 games as a rookie with the Blackhawks last season. Nazar is entering the final season of the three-year, entry-level contract he signed on April 13, 2024.
"Honestly, I don’t see any pressure behind it," Nazar said of his contract on Friday. "I’m going to go in, into each season and each day thinking I’m the best and believing in my process and what I can do. I don’t think anything changes for me, it’s the same me, it’s the same exact everything, it’s just a little bonus and reparations for my play and what I can do. I’m still motivated and still want to be the best player I can be.
"Now I just want to win more than I did last year."
Nazar was asked the reasoning behind why he signed a new contract now instead of waiting for next offseason.
"I always say how much I believe in myself and I’m very confident in what I can do," he said. "That was kind of the hard part of, 'Make the decision on this' and 'What took so long?' I always want everyone to think I’m the best, because the day you don’t think you’re the best, you probably shouldn’t be playing hockey. You have to have that confidence and just know that you can do this and you’re going to beat any guy out there. ...
"It wasn’t hard when you put all that stuff together in the long run and see that I can be in Chicago for seven years and play with the team of my dreams, the team that I want to be at and the city that I want to be at with a crew you want to be with and players you want to be with. Those are easy decisions at the end, there are just a lot of different things that go into it."
Chicago general manager Kyle Davidson said the Blackhawks were thrilled to get Nazar under contract for the long term.
“Frank elevated his game last season and has proven himself to be one of the top young talents in the League,” 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.”
Selected by the Blackhawks with the No. 13 pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, Nazar has 27 points (13 goals, 14 assists) in 56 games.
Nazar said he gained a lot from his experience at the 2025 IIHF World Championship, where he had 12 points (six goals, six assists) in 10 games to tie for the United States scoring lead on the way to winning a gold medal.
"I think it’s a huge thing being able to play with guys at that huge caliber and being able to be successful with them," he said. "I learned a lot from the World Championships and the guys that I played with and such high-end talent and high-end names.
"When you play with a team that close and that talented and us being able to put so much together, it’s truly special, and that’s what I want to bring to Chicago and the team here and everyone gets that taste of winning and what it’s like to come together as a team, and that's what I want to focus on and it definitely builds a lot of confidence coming into this year and throughout the summer."
Chicago opens the 2025-26 season at the Florida Panthers on Oct. 7 (5 p.m. ET; ESPN, SN, TVAS).
NHL.com staff writer Derek Van Diest contributed to this report
