ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Chants of “Free Jim Harbaugh” broke out from the Michigan student section at Yost Ice Arena when Harbaugh and his football team made their entrance on Saturday night.
With Michigan football beating Penn State on the road earlier in the day and Harbaugh’s suspension dominating sports headlines, no one was going to top them anywhere on campus. They did probably steal some of Frank Nazar’s spotlight at Yost that night, but that was more than fine by him.
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“That was pretty cool to see everyone pull up,” Nazar said. “They did that last year, too. It was pretty sweet. That was fun to have those guys.”
Plus, no one could actually pop the cloud Nazar was on after Saturday’s 3-2 shootout win over Minnesota.
He had just played arguably his best college hockey game, assisting on Michigan’s first goal and later scoring on a power play by perfectly placing the puck short side over the goalie’s right shoulder from the left circle. He finished with a goal, an assist and nine shots on net. More important, he played with speed without the puck and was dangerous with it.
Nazar had shown signs of improvement and accumulated plenty of points since returning from his lower-body injury, which kept him out of most of last season as a freshman, but his performance Saturday was on another level. Nazar always believed he’d be back, but it does mean something to him for others to witness it, too.
“I think just now I’m starting to feel good and get back into my way and even better than how I was,” said Nazar, who has six goals and seven assists in 12 games this season. “I think going at it every day has been a big key for me. Started off a little bit rough, but working my way through things throughout the season and I think that’s just been a big key — going to work. That’s been helping me get my confidence in the game. That’s what I’m aiming at.”
Nazar has rarely lacked confidence. He’s not cocky, but he knows his capabilities. And that’s the thing: He knew his limitations after returning last season. Now, he’s no longer concerned about what he can’t do, just excited about the possibilities.
“It’s way more fun,” Nazar said. “Just being able to have confidence to know, like, OK, I feel like I can make a play, I feel super strong, like I’m going to be able to score, going into a game knowing that I’m going to get a chance to score. When you score or make a nice play, that’s the fun of the game. And winning, that’s the fun of the game. Making an impact on the team to win the game, that’s the enjoyment. Feeling like I can do a lot more of that this year.”
The Chicago Blackhawks, of course, share that excitement. They drafted Nazar with the 13th pick in the 2022 draft.
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“I think it was always going to take a little more time for him to ramp up and get as comfortable as he was before the injury,” Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson said. “For players at that stage of their career and development, games are the most important things, and playing time. The injury took a little bit of that away from him last year.
“This year, it’s getting that timing back, making up for lost time. I think every single game that goes by this year, you get the reports and get the feel he’s stepping up. … Happy with his progression. It was obviously a tough situation heading into his freshman year, but it looks like he’s getting up to speed. We’re really excited for him.”
Nazar wasn’t the only Blackhawks first-round pick playing in the Michigan-Minnesota games. Minnesota freshman forward Oliver Moore, the No. 19 pick in 2023, and freshman defenseman Sam Rinzel, the No. 25 pick in 2022, who are also roommates, were on the Gophers’ side of the rivalry.
“It’s really unique,” said Davidson, who didn’t make the trip with Blackhawks staff. “It’s not very often that you have three first-round picks even in a league, let alone against each other. It’s a great opportunity to see them match up, play head to head and have a couple people at the game to kind of take a look at where they’re at.”
Nazar had scored a few goals at Yost in his young college career, but they always happened to come during the second period. No specific reason, just coincidence.
The only reason it matters is that Michigan’s student section, the Children of Yost, sits at the end where the Wolverines shoot during the first and third periods, not the second, so Nazar felt he hadn’t truly experienced the home crowd yet.
On his first shift of Friday’s game, he knocked that off his list. Standing just to the left of the net, Nazar batted down a puck off a rebound and watched as it trickled through the goalie and into the net at 1 minute, 37 seconds of the first period.
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Nazar slipped to the ice after scoring, got up behind the net and was facing away from the student section as he began skating in celebration. After about two steps, Nazar realized he was missing his opportunity, turned around, skated toward the student section, slid on one knee and popped up as he approached the glass.
It was everything Nazar hoped it would be.
“It was pretty cool to celebrate in front of all the students and be able to go to them after a big goal, especially that early, and the building just erupts,” he said.
Nazar and Moore have had plenty of opportunities over the years to get close a look at each other, beginning when both were at the U.S. National Team Development Program, and now in college.
For plenty of shifts on Friday and Saturday, both players were on the ice at the same time. And they took some notes.
“His speed and creating space throughout with his speed (stood out),” Nazar said. “So, like, pushing the ‘D’ back and cutting back. That’s something I might have to steal from him, trying to do that more. But I thought he looked good out there.”
Moore was just as complimentary about Nazar’s game.
“Taking faceoffs against him, you realize he’s an all-around player,” Moore said. “You always got to respect his speed and his will to play offense and also play defense. He’s just a good hockey player and someone I respect, for sure.”
Nazar did mostly have his way at the dot with Moore, but to be fair, Nazar did that to nearly everyone. He won 25 of 38 faceoffs in the two games.
Speed is the one element Nazar and Moore share most. Internally, Blackhawks management has even dreamed about the possibility of throwing Nazar, Moore and Lukas Reichel together on a line and letting their speed loose on the league.
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And Michigan respected Moore’s speed throughout the weekend.
The Wolverines had him well-scouted and didn’t let him build his speed with the puck too often — a lesson Moore is learning at the college level. A couple of times, he utilized teammates to get him open or found small pockets to get off quick shots. For example, on this play, Moore begins with the puck behind the goal line, skates to the wing, can’t find an opening, passes to Rinzel at the top of the zone and skates to a position where he can get the puck again to shoot.
“The first eight games we’ve had have all been rivalry games,” said Moore, who has two goals and six assists in 10 games this season. “They’ve all been tough games. You just realize how tight games are and how hard offense is to come by. You’re going to get a team’s best every night, and finding new ways to create offense going to the net, doing little things right offensively is going to help, for sure.”
Davidson had a feeling Moore’s game would adapt well to college hockey and eventually will to the NHL. The speed is obviously one key, but there’s more.
“I think with Oliver, last year there was so much versatility to his game,” Davidson said. “He was up and down the lineup, he was down the middle, on the wing, first line, second line, third line, kind of a Swiss Army knife. That’s something we really appreciated about his game.
“The main thing I like more than anything is he wants to make a difference every time he’s on the ice. He just plays with no fear. He doesn’t hold back and just plays as fast as he can, as hard as he can every shift. Doesn’t matter what level you’re at, you’re going to make an impact if that’s what you’re going to do.”
After Friday’s game, in which Minnesota rallied from a 3-1 deficit to win, Nazar and Moore met up briefly to take a picture to share with their past billet families with the USNTDP. They told each other “good game” and went on their way.
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Nazar didn’t say anything aloud, but his mind was already on getting revenge in Saturday’s game.
“Said good game, put my head down, and I’m like, tomorrow we’re coming after you,” Nazar said.
Rinzel nearly spoiled Nazar and Michigan’s hopes for revenge.
Like the first game, Michigan scored first and led in the third period. And again, the Gophers fought back. With Minnesota trailing 2-1 with under five minutes remaining in the third period, the puck was knocked along the right boards in Michigan’s defensive zone. Rinzel positioned himself along the boards, hopeful it might skip to him.
It did, and the last player it passed was Nazar, who was just a few feet in front of Rinzel. Rinzel got the puck, and Nazar immediately lowered himself in an attempt to thwart a shot attempt. Rinzel waited a moment to find an opening in Nazar’s body and shoot through him to the net. The puck hit the goalie, bounced off, and a Minnesota teammate cleaned up the chance for a tying goal.
“That second goal for them was because of him,” Nazar said of Rinzel. “He got a shot through on me. That one is on me. It’s just that being able to get away from guys and get a shot through from the point.”
Rinzel is by no means a finished product or that close to being an NHL player. Nazar and Moore are further along. But you can already see NHL-like attributes in Rinzel — specifically his ability with the puck — and how he could become a really useful defenseman for the Blackhawks. He already understands how to use his elite skating and size (6 feet 4 inches) to his advantage and be patient with the puck. Minnesota recognized that early, too, and made him its top power-play quarterback.
Holding the puck for that extra moment against Nazar is one example of Rinzel’s capabilities. There were even more noticeable examples throughout the weekend. Take this end-to-end rush on the power play on Saturday as another:
“I think obviously I believe skating is my No. 1 asset,” said Rinzel, who has seven assists in 10 games this season. “I think coming in with my size, I think I’m able to break away from guys. Whenever I’m kind of able to use that, I like to use that. I think obviously it’s about opening up space and opening up space for teammates. I just think it’s looking for that best play and trying to dial in and keep it simple and playing the right way as well.”
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Rinzel has confidence in some areas and knows others need work. He describes himself as raw and still learning how to use his body. Minnesota’s coaches have spent time working on how to defend with his stick and angle opponents better.
“I think that’s what it’s about in the NHL, too, in the future,” Rinzel said. “Just being able to kill plays and using my size and my skating, kind of being physical.”
A lot of that comes down to Rinzel’s frame. He and the Blackhawks knew he’d have to put on some weight in the coming years. Last season, he weighed about 170 pounds in the USHL. He’s around 185 now. He’d love to get to 200 or more pounds.
Davidson has a ton of patience for his prospects, but that’s especially true of Rinzel. The GM understands Rinzel’s development is a multi-year process. So far, Davidson has liked Rinzel’s progression in his second year after being drafted.
“Sometimes some people can look a bit sideways going back to the USHL for another year, but I thought it was great for him,” Davidson said. “He played big minutes. He built his confidence to the point where he steps into the Big Ten and a major program like Minnesota and he’s playing in a big role. I think he’s assimilated very well to the next level of hockey, and it’s just going to be games and reps and minutes, and that’s what he’s getting at Minnesota.”
Oh, they’re watching.
Nazar, Moore and Rinzel have taken in plenty of Connor Bedard’s highlights. They caught Kevin Korchinski’s first NHL goal. They’ve noticed the ice time and the opportunities given to their peers who were also drafted in the first round and whom they spent plenty of time with at development camp.
On the one hand, they’re excited for their friends.
“I’ve been watching their games and the Hawks games when I have time,” Nazar said. “I saw a four-point night (by Bedard). That was really impressive. To be able to do that, that chip play he made through (Nikita) Kucherov’s legs was pretty sick. I’d be freaking out after. I think it’s nice to see the young guys coming out and scoring some goals. Like Korchinski got his first, that was really cool, especially on mom’s weekend. That was nice. I think it’s just really cool to see guys that I’m kind of close to in age doing well and doing their thing. I’m excited to see how those guys do the rest of the season.”
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And they’re also excited about someday joining them and having those same chances.
“Obviously watch them whenever I can,” Rinzel said. “Watching Kevin and him progress also, it’s pretty fun. … It’s pretty special to see them have their success, and it’s going to be pretty awesome.”
Frank Nazar and Oliver Moore take a faceoff against each other. (Scott Powers / The Athletic)Davidson hopes it’ll be awesome, too. His focus, though, is not rushing his prospects’ development until he believes they’re ready to be awesome, or at least prepared to play in the NHL. Bedard and Korchinski’s quick adjustment to the NHL isn’t common. Reichel is still finding his footing in the NHL in his third professional North American season. Alex Vlasic needed a full season in Rockford to take a significant step. Everyone’s timeline will vary.
Davidson understands, too, that Bedard’s arrival has made fans hopeful that team success comes sooner than later. Davidson would rather have happy fans than not, but it doesn’t change how he does his job.
“Look, if you got the opportunity to pick and you could say guys could develop quicker rather than slower, you would pick that, but that’s not the reality of the situation,” Davidson said. “We’re just going to let these players come along and do everything we can to make sure they’re in the best situation to improve and succeed and become the players that we want.
“This is about making sure everyone reaches their potential and our team reaches their potential. If we try and rush and get to that proverbial finish line too quickly, I think we’re going to do ourselves a disservice. We want to build something that’s special, that’s long-lasting, that’s sustainable, and we do that through thoughtful, responsible development. I think that’s the approach we’ve taken so far and what we’ll continue to do moving forward.”
(Top photo courtesy of Michigan Athletics)
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