Frank Nazar and the reaction to his contract extension have been a popular topic in NHL circles since Friday. However, there is another Nazar storyline to keep an eye on as time moves along.
A few days before the extension, Nazar was 1 of 44 players named to Team USA’s 2026 Olympic Orientation Camp. He likely earned this invite thanks to how well he played with the Blackhawks in April, combined with his domination for Team USA at the IIHF World Championships.
NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, who doesn’t say things just to say them, had some informative things to say on this topic during his most recent episode of the “32 Thoughts” Podcast.
“I'll tell you this, Nazar, the way he played at the World Championships, he's been invited to the US Olympic Camp next week,” Friedman said. “I don't know, nothing against Nazar. But that's a big ask, I think, for him to make the Olympic team next year. But as I was talking, I had guys saying to me, don't write him off. He might not make it, but he will get runway. He impressed enough people at the World Championships last year; they're bringing him to their camp for a reason.”
Nazar and Team USA seem to have a good relationship right now. He won a Gold Medal at both the World Juniors and the IIHF World Championship. If he does well at camp and comes out of the gate strong in the NHL with Chicago, he has a shot.
There are a lot of good bubble forwards to consider. With guys like Brock Nelson and Chris Kreider likely coming off the team following the 4-Nations Face-Off, there are spots to be taken by whoever earns them. Whoever they believe can help them win should be on the team, even if it means having some hard conversations.
Nazar does a lot of things that make him a winning player. We know about his offensive skills, but his motor, speed, and versatility make him dangerous in all situations. During the 2024-25 season, Nazar showed that he can kill penalties, which makes him a valuable player on that skill alone, and he makes a difference on the power play.
Sometimes, with all of the skill in these best-on-best tournaments, it can be hard to find penalty killers. Most of the NHL's top forwards don't kill penalties. Nazar would certainly be one of the top forwards in that role on Team USA if he were on the team.
Like Friedman said, don't bet money on Nazar making the team simply because of the talent pool that they are choosing from. However, it is fair to think that he wasn't invited to camp without real consideration that he could earn his way on. He needs a huge start to Chicago's regular season to have a chance.
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