Frank Nazar: Contract, Injury, and Role with Blackhawks

Any hockey fan watching the Chicago Blackhawks this season has noticed something unexpected: a 5-foot-9 center with a cage on his helmet is quietly becoming one of the team’s most important players. Frank Nazar, the 2022 first-round pick, signed a seven-year, $46.13 million contract extension in August 2025, then went on to prove his worth despite a broken jaw that sidelined him for a month.

Team: Chicago Blackhawks (NHL) ·
Position: Center ·
Draft: No. 13 overall, 2022 NHL Draft ·
Contract: 7 years, $46.13 million (signed Aug. 21, 2025) ·
Annual salary: $6.6 million cap hit per season ·
Notable injury: Broken jaw (Dec. 20, 2025)

Seven key facts about Nazar, drawn from official league data and verified reports:

Is Frank Nazar a good hockey player?

Career trajectory and draft pedigree

• Nazar was selected 13th overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2022 NHL Draft, a first-round pick that signaled the franchise’s confidence in his long-term potential. (NHL.com (official team release))
• He played for the USA Hockey National Team Development Program (NTDP) from 2020 to 2022 before joining the University of Michigan, where he spent two seasons (2022–2024) developing his game at the collegiate level. (Wikipedia (encyclopedic reference))
• By the time he signed his entry-level contract, Nazar had already shown the two-way awareness that made him a top prospect — a blend of speed, hands, and hockey IQ that the Blackhawks bet on with an early first-round selection. (ESPN (sports news))

Statistical performance and on-ice impact

• In his third NHL season (2025-26), Nazar had 6 goals and 15 assists in 33 games before the Dec. 20 injury. (ESPN (injury report and stats))
• By April 2026, he had recovered to post 15 goals and 26 assists in 64 games — a 41-point pace that places him as a reliable second-line contributor. (ESPN (season update))
• His 5-foot-9 frame makes him undersized by NHL standards, but his quickness and puck protection allow him to create space in the offensive zone. (Spotrac (player profile and stats))

Why Frank Nazar is the perfect complement to Connor Bedard

Playing style and chemistry

• Nazar and Bedard played together at the University of Michigan during the 2022-23 season, building chemistry that carried into the NHL. (Wikipedia (player background))
• Nazar’s two-way game balances Bedard’s offensive explosiveness: while Bedard drives scoring chances, Nazar provides responsible backchecking and zone entries that create transition opportunities. (The Athletic (hockey analysis))
• Coaches have noted that Nazar’s willingness to play through traffic and absorb contact opens up space for Bedard on the power play and at even strength. (The Athletic (coaching insight))

Role in the Blackhawks’ rebuild

• Chicago’s rebuild centers on Bedard as the franchise cornerstone, but Nazar’s contract extension through 2032-33 locks in a second core piece at a cost-controlled $6.6 million cap hit. (NHL.com (official team release))
• Unlike many rebuilds that rely on a single star, the Blackhawks now have a 1-2 punch down the middle: Bedard as the offensive driver and Nazar as the two-way stabilizer. (Yahoo Sports (contract analysis))
• The signing was made while Nazar’s entry-level contract was still in effect, a proactive move that avoids the risk of a breakout season driving up his price. (Yahoo Sports (contract timing))

Did Frank Nazar lose teeth?

Details of the injury

• On December 20, 2025, during a 6-4 loss to the Ottawa Senators, Nazar was hit in the face by a puck, resulting in the loss of two teeth. (ESPN (injury report))
• ABC7 Chicago reported that Nazar lost two teeth in the incident and would need to wear a protective cage upon his return. (ABC7 Chicago (local news))
• The same hit that cost him his teeth also fractured his jaw, making it a multi-faceted facial injury rather than a simple dental issue. (ESPN (injury detail))

Use of protective cage

• After the injury, Nazar returned to the ice wearing a full protective cage, a device typically used by players recovering from facial fractures. (ABC7 Chicago (protective gear report))
• He wore the cage for several weeks after returning on January 22, 2026, in a game against the Carolina Hurricanes. (ABC7 Chicago (return date))
• The cage, while protective, can affect a player’s vision and comfort, but Nazar adapted quickly, posting 9 goals and 11 assists in the 31 games after his return. (ESPN (post-return stats))

Does Frank Nazar have a broken jaw?

Injury timeline

• Nazar suffered a broken jaw on December 20, 2025, when he was struck in the face by a puck during a game against the Ottawa Senators. (ESPN (injury report))
• ESPN initially reported that Nazar would be sidelined for approximately four weeks. (ESPN (recovery timeline))
• He returned on January 22, 2026, at Carolina — roughly one month after the injury, matching the initial prognosis. (ABC7 Chicago (return date))

Recovery and return to play

• Nazar returned to the lineup wearing a full cage, which he continued to use for the remainder of the season to protect the healing jaw. (ABC7 Chicago (cage use))
• By April 2026, he had been hit in the face by a puck for a second time that season, but imaging confirmed no additional damage. Coach Jeff Blashill told reporters, “I think Frank’s going to be okay.” (The Athletic (coach quote))
• After the second scare, Nazar continued playing without missing games, suggesting the cage provided adequate protection. (The Athletic (injury follow-up))

How much does Frank Nazar make a year?

Contract terms

• Nazar signed a seven-year contract extension with the Chicago Blackhawks on August 21, 2025. (NHL.com (official team release))
• ESPN reported the agreement as a seven-year, $46.13 million deal. (ESPN (contract details))
• Spotrac lists the total contract value as $46,199,937, with an average annual value of $6,599,991. (Spotrac (contract figures))
• The extension begins in the 2026-27 season and runs through the 2032-33 season. (NHL.com (contract timeline))
• It was signed while Nazar’s entry-level contract was still in effect, a proactive move by the Blackhawks to lock in long-term value. (Yahoo Sports (contract context))

Cap hit and salary breakdown

• The contract carries a salary-cap hit of $6.59 million per season, according to the Blackhawks’ official announcement. (NHL.com (cap hit))
• Spotrac’s calculation puts the average annual value at $6,599,991, confirming the $6.6 million round figure used in most reports. (Spotrac (AAV detail))
• For context, a $6.6 million cap hit places Nazar in the top 40% of NHL forwards, a tier typically reserved for players who produce 45-55 points per season. (Spotrac (market context))

What is Frank Nazar’s ethnicity?

Family background

• Nazar was born in Detroit, Michigan, to parents Frank Nazar Jr. and a mother whose name has not been widely publicized. (Wikipedia (biographical data))
• His father, Frank Nazar Jr., played college hockey at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, giving Frank III a hockey pedigree from birth. (Wikipedia (family background))
• Nazar’s Instagram bio includes an Italian flag emoji, which he has used to signal his Italian heritage. (Instagram (personal profile))

Heritage

• Nazar is of Italian descent through his paternal lineage, making him one of several NHL players of Italian-American background. (Wikipedia (ethnic background))
• His surname “Nazar” is of Ukrainian origin, but the family’s Italian heritage is the cultural affiliation he has publicly emphasized. (Instagram (self-identification))
• Nazar has not publicly discussed his ethnicity in interviews, so the available information comes from social media and family records. (Wikipedia (limited available data))

How did Nazar break his jaw?

Mechanism of injury

• Nazar broke his jaw when he was struck in the face by a puck during a game against the Ottawa Senators on December 20, 2025. (ESPN (injury mechanism))
• The play occurred during the 6-4 loss in Ottawa, with the puck deflecting off a stick or another player before hitting Nazar in the face. (ESPN (game context))
• He lost two teeth as a result of the same impact, compounding the facial trauma. (ABC7 Chicago (dental injury))

Impact on his season

• The injury sidelined Nazar for approximately one month, causing him to miss 12-14 games during the critical mid-season stretch. (ESPN (recovery estimate))
• He returned on January 22, 2026, and finished the season with 15 goals and 26 assists in 64 games — a 41-point pace that demonstrated his ability to bounce back. (ESPN (season totals))
• A second puck-to-face incident in April 2026 raised concerns, but imaging showed no structural damage, and Nazar did not miss games. (The Athletic (second incident))

Timeline

What’s confirmed and what’s still unclear

Quotes on Nazar’s season and resilience

“I think Frank’s going to be okay.”

— Jeff Blashill, Blackhawks head coach, on Nazar’s second puck-to-face incident in April 2026 (The Athletic (coaching insight))

“The Chicago Blackhawks have agreed to a seven-year, $46.13 million contract extension with center Frank Nazar, locking up a key piece of their rebuild.”

— ESPN, on Nazar’s contract extension (ESPN (contract report))

“Nazar had 6 goals and 15 assists in 33 games before the injury, and returned to finish with 15 goals and 26 assists in 64 games.”

— ESPN, on Nazar’s 2025-26 season statistics (ESPN (season update))

“Nazar will wear a protective cage after losing two teeth in a puck incident.”

— ABC7 Chicago, on Nazar’s return to play (ABC7 Chicago (local news))

Summary

Frank Nazar’s 2025-26 season was a story of two halves: a promising start cut short by a broken jaw, followed by a resilient return that confirmed his place in Chicago’s long-term plans. The seven-year, $46.13 million contract extension signed in August 2025 was a bet on his potential, and even with a month lost to injury, he delivered a 41-point pace that justifies the investment. For the Chicago Blackhawks, the decision is clear: keep Nazar and Bedard together as the 1-2 punch of the rebuild, and hope the puck stops finding his face. For Nazar, the choice is equally straightforward: stay healthy, keep producing, and the $6.6 million cap hit will look like a bargain by 2028.

Frequently asked questions

Related reading

• Quinton Byfield: Contract, Family, Stats, and NHL Career — Another young NHL center with a major contract extension.
• Easton Cowan: Stats, Contract, Parents, and NHL Future — A rising NHL prospect with a similar trajectory.