FILE - The Blackhawks signed center Frank Nazar to a seven-year contract extension Thursday. AP

The Chicago Blackhawks signed forward Frank Nazar to a seven-year contract extension on Thursday with a cap hit of $6.59 million per season. The contract doesn’t kick in until the 2026-27 season, as Nazar still has a year left on his entry-level deal. The hope — the expectation, really — is that he and Connor Bedard can be the Blackhawks’ 1-2 punch down the middle for the next decade or more.

For much of last season, Nazar was tantalizing but frustrating for the Blackhawks, all speed and slickness and scoring chances with little production to show for it. Then, the calendar turned to April, and the puck started going in. Nazar had five goals and four assists in eight games in April. He then w

See Full Page