Frank Nazar got off to a hot start in the Chicago Blackhawks' season opener against the Florida Panthers, scoring a goal and an assist. He then followed that up with another assist in the second game of the 2025-26 season against the Boston Bruins. At this point of the season (which is very early), he second-year center leads the team in points. Could we have a race on our hands between Nazar and Connor Bedard?

After no points in the opener, Bedard got on the board for the Blackhawks with a goal and an assist himself in the second game. Along with three other forwards, these are the five players that are expected to be the top-5 scorers on the team by the end of the season.

Nazar is playing well over 20 minutes per game already as the second line center, but Bedard is a sliver short of 22 minutes per game through two games. Both are going to continue to be leaned on, which is a good thing if they are driving play and producing.

Bedard has been the Blackhawks' leader in points in each of his first two seasons in the NHL, recording 61 and 67 points. Nazar hasn't had the full season to challenge him yet, and Nazar does have the skill and ability as a 13th overall pick one year prior to Bedard being drafted by Chicago.

Nazar has only played 58 career games in the NHL compared to Bedard's 152, but the latter has the much better points-per-game to this point. It is a new season though, and both of the young centers have equally capable wingers to complement them. Chicago still hasn't managed to surround Bedard, or Nazar for that case, with elite players yet, so they are on pretty even playing ground. Both are on the top power play, and there are 80 games left to see who finishes on top.

One thing that Blackhawks fans should be excited about is that these two appear to be set to push each other to succeed and get better and it should be a fun race.

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