How can the Chicago Blackhawks stop the bleeding — and fast? Frank Nazar says it starts with him.
TAMPA, Fla. — Frank Nazar, like the rest of the Chicago Blackhawks, is frustrated.
You can see it on the face of the 22-year-old after each loss. He might be the visual of the team’s poor start.
The Hawks are 4-11-1 heading into their matchup against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday, well below their expectations of competing this season. They were 8-5-3 through 16 games in 2025-26, when they finished 29-39-14.
What can the Hawks do to turn things around?
“I definitely think it comes from the heart — checking, work ethic, stuff like that,” Nazar said. “Going into each game like it’s Game 7 and trying to win each game even if it’s 1-nothing, 2-1, 2-nothing, 5-5, like we’ve got to figure out what we need to do and go from there.”
They have a lot to figure out, primarily what they need to do to win consistently. There’s plenty to fix, but is starts with finishing.
Nazar has seen a ton of quality scoring chances, only to have most of his shots saved. The center does need to improve on his scoring consistency to be a dependable top-six forward, but his missed chances have bordered on the unlucky.
“Some tough bounces, tough luck, puck doesn’t end up in the net, and I think it’s been like that with our whole team,” Nazar said. “Continuing to play the way we’re playing and get those chances, and (they’ll) start to go in. We’ll start to score more goals and win more games.”
Coach Jeff Blashill has used “snakebitten” almost daily in regards to his team’s finishing struggles. Entering Thursday, they’re averaging just 2.25 goals per game.
Blashill’s responsible for creating the system and lineups for his team to score, but he can do only do so much when his players take the ice.
Can you coach finishing?
“It’s hard to coach because when you try you actually make it worse,” Blashill said Oct. 27. “The biggest thing you probably preach is don’t start cheating for it. When you start cheating for it, your total game goes backward and you’re going to produce less.”
Blashill has tried different line combinations in hopes of a spark. He has Nazar as the third-line center behind Connor Bedard and Anton Frondell.
Downgrade isn’t the right word, but Nazar is skating in the first year of a seven-year, $46.13 million extension. His $6.59 million annual salary-cap hit is third on the team among forwards, so he’s getting top-six money.
Nazar said he isn’t bothered by being on the third line.
“It doesn’t affect me personally,” Nazar said. “I just want to do whatever I can to help the team win. “Whatever, whoever I’ve been playing with, our line has been creating a ton of great chances and great opportunities.”
Nazar has seven points (five goals, two assists) and 25 shots on goal with a shooting percentage of 20%, 16 giveaways and a faceoff percentage of 44.3% in 14 games. He was suspended for two games in early October for his hit on New York Islanders captain Bo Horvat in a 4-1 loss.
Nazar scored two goals in the third period against the Florida Panthers on Wednesday, his first goals since Oct. 15. Of course, the frustration of the 5-3 loss took priority.
“It feels good, but we lost, so it doesn’t,” Nazar said bluntly postgame.
He’s on a line with Oliver Moore on the left and — once he returns from injury— Patrick Kane on the right again. Nazar has felt good with the youngster and veteran as his wings.
“When you play with people, you gain more chemistry, so I think that’s a huge part,” Nazar said. “It’s just our work ethic and our ability to find each other.”
The entire Hawks locker room needs to find ways to win — and soon — before the season becomes a lost cause. Nazar will be a key, and building momentum from his showing against the Panthers could be the beginning.
“Honestly, starts with myself,” Nazar said. “I’ve got to be better away from the puck, and you can’t get outscored by other lines every game, (so) just got to be better.”