Hockey

Frank Nazar signs a historic contract for a forward in his position
Félix Forget
Frank Nazar signs a historic contract for a forward in his position
Credit: Getty Images

At the 2022 draft, Kent Hughes really stole the show. The first-time Habs GM selected Shane Wright Juraj Slafkovský at #1… and 15 minutes later, he completed two huge trades.Alexander Romanov went to Long Island with the 13th pick… who was then traded to the Blackhawks for Kirby Dach.But what happened to that 13th pick? In fact, the Blackhawks used it to select Frank Nazar… who has become an important piece of the team's plan. And today, the Blackhawks announced that Nazar has signed a contract extension that's sure to surprise: it's a seven-year deal that will pay $6.59 million per year.And in fact, it's a historic contract.

In fact, we're talking about the biggest contract (in terms of total money) ever signed for a player with so little NHL experience. Nazar has played only 56 NHL games to date, collecting 27 points, but beyond the points, he has clearly demonstrated that his talent is undeniable. Infact, the closest comparable for a forward in Nazar's situation is Kirill Kaprizov, who signed a five-year contract for $9 million a year after playing just 55 games on the show. But in terms of total money, it's Nazar who has the edge, andit's worth noting that for the player, going for that kind of security has its advantages. Nazar has a history of injuries (to his knee), so he's guaranteed a big payday no matter what happens.Note that this new contract will begin in 2026-27. Nazar still has a year left on his rookie contract, so it's a big contract in Chicago. Let's see how it pans out over the next few years, but don't be surprised if it turns out to be a real bargain.

'Overtime'

– Aww!

– Logical.

– What do you think?

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