Frank Nazar’s new deal reflects a growing strength in the Blackhawks’ front office: keeping their own talent.
On Thursday, the team signed the young forward to a seven-year contract extension with a $6.59 million annual cap hit. That move continues a pattern — alongside earlier deals with defenseman Alex Vlasic (six years, $4.6M AAV) and veteran Ryan Donato (four years, $4M AAV) — that highlights how GM Kyle Davidson and his team have become more adept at internal negotiations.
In Donato’s case, it looked like he might test free agency, but the Hawks were able to re-sign him with only a slight bump from their initial offer. These signings contrast with Davidson’s earlier deals, when he overpaid to retain players like Nick Foligno, Jason Dickinson, Petr Mrazek, and Andreas Athanasiou in short-term contracts designed to help the team reach the salary cap floor.
What’s different now is that cap flexibility is becoming more important, and the contracts for Nazar, Vlasic, and Donato seem like savvy bets rather than stopgaps.
One reason for the improved negotiations could be Chris O’Hearn, a new hire with a strong reputation from his time with the Wild. Still, Davidson’s front office has not had the same success attracting outside free agents — recent misses like T.J. Brodie emphasize that shortcoming.
Next summer will be a key test for the Blackhawks, with major names potentially hitting the 2026 free-agent market (like Connor McDavid, Cale Makar, and Jack Eichel), while the team will also need to re-sign young stars like Connor Bedard and Kevin Korchinski.
Nazar’s deal also shows the Hawks are willing to take risks on young players with upside, similar to what the Hurricanes have done. Despite playing just 56 NHL games and tallying 26 points, Nazar secured a long-term contract. If his production jumps this year, that $6.6M cap hit could become a bargain as the salary cap continues to rise.
From Nazar’s standpoint, it was a calculated decision: bet on stability and security now, rather than trying to increase his value later. He emphasized confidence in his ability and a desire to stay in Chicago long-term.
His mindset remains unchanged despite the payday: “Same me, same exact everything,” he said, still focused on winning and growth. After helping Team USA to gold at the world championships, Nazar wants to bring that same winning culture to the Blackhawks.
