The Chicago Blackhawks are facing a challenging situation as they deal with yet another injury to one of their promising young talents, Frank Nazar. After Connor Bedard was already sidelined, Nazar took a puck to the face during the first period of a game against the Ottawa Senators, forcing him to exit early and ultimately miss the rest of the match.
Following the game, Blackhawks head coach Jeff Blashill confirmed the severity of the injury, stating, "He’ll miss time for sure. Approximately four weeks probably," indicating that fans should brace themselves for Nazar’s absence.
In a critical moment at 5:08 into the first period, Senators defenseman Jordan Spence unleashed a powerful shot from the left circle. The puck deflected off the stick of Tyler Bertuzzi and struck Nazar squarely on his right cheek. Immediately sensing the impact, Nazar clutched his face and skated off the ice under his own power. Just before the second period commenced, the Blackhawks officially announced that he would not return to the game.
Nazar, who was selected in the first round of the 2022 draft, had recently stepped up to assume the role of No. 1 center, filling in for Bedard due to his injury. Remarkably, Saturday's game marked Nazar's fourth outing in this elevated position. He has been having a solid season, recording six goals and 15 assists over 33 games played. Additionally, this offseason, he secured a lucrative seven-year contract extension with a cap hit of $6.59 million, set to take effect next season.
In response to Nazar's injury, the Blackhawks have opted to elevate Ryan Greene, another young center, to fill the void left in the lineup.
It's important to note that the Blackhawks are already grappling with Bedard's injury, which remains a concern as he is expected to undergo reassessment in early January after suffering a shoulder injury on December 12. This ongoing string of injuries raises questions about the team's depth and future performance as they navigate this tough stretch.
