Frank Nazar scores on first shot in NHL debut with Chicago Blackhawks
CHICAGO (AP) — Welcome to the NHL, Frank Nazar.
Nazar scored on his first shot on goal in his debut with the Chicago Blackhawks in the team’s home finale against the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday.
Wearing No. 91, a smiling Nazar got a big cheer from the early arriving fans when he took the ice for his solo rookie lap ahead of warmups. He centered a line with Jason Dickinson and Joey Anderson at the beginning of the game, but coach Luke Richardson said they might take a look at a couple different combinations.
After coming up empty on an early power-play opportunity, Nazar got a slick pass from Seth Jones and skated in on Pyotr Kochetkov for a breakaway. He beat Kochetkov on the goaltender’s stick side 10:05 into the first period, sending a charge through the United Center crowd.
The 20-year-old Nazar, one of Chicago’s top prospects, turned pro after Michigan lost 4-0 to Boston College in the Frozen Four on Thursday night. The 5-foot-10 forward agreed to a three-year contract that runs through the 2025-26 season at a $950,000 salary-cap hit.