F Frank Nazar - Michigan Wolverines, NCAA (2022, 13th, CHI)

[AMScouting]

Shifts of Nazar:

 

[KevSkillz4]

Nazar have a chance to become a top 5 pick?

He looks pretty talented.

 

[Dominance]

Nazar have a chance to become a top 5 pick?

He looks pretty talented.

I’m far from an expert on the USNTDP, but I’ve liked Nazar the best of that amazing American ‘04 group going back 2+ years. I’d still take him before Cooley - perhaps making a massive error in the process - and seeing as how Cooley’s generating a consensus as a top-5 pick, I would say yes.

 

[MichaelFarrell]

Nazar have a chance to become a top 5 pick?

He looks pretty talented.

The biggest difference to me is that Cooley will be a center in the NHL and Nazar seems more like a winger to me. Nazar was definitely underrated for a while. I could see him going top 10. But, I don’t think his game is as translatable as Cooley’s or some other guys that will go top 5.

Frankly, I’d take Wright, Cooley, Nemec, Savoie, and Lambert ahead of him just based on being able to project their skill set into the nhl and/or higher upside.

 

[Osakahaus]

Is Nazar more of a playmaker or a goal scorer?

 

[Luc Poitras]

The biggest difference to me is that Cooley will be a center in the NHL and Nazar seems more like a winger to me. Nazar was definitely underrated for a while. I could see him going top 10. But, I don’t think his game is as translatable as Cooley’s or some other guys that will go top 5.

Frankly, I’d take Wright, Cooley, Nemec, Savoie, and Lambert ahead of him just based on being able to project their skill set into the nhl and/or higher upside.

I completely agree - he's a natural winger... not a center.

 

[NHL Dude 120]

Greig-Stutzle-Nazar

 

[SevenOfSpades]

Greig-Stutzle-Nazar

If you've heard of him, Ottawa won't draft him.

 

[ValeriKamensky]

Just watched his shift by shift compilation. He really reminds me of Nikita Kucherov at the same age. I mean style of play. The same skill set: soft hands, lethal wrist shot, playmaking abilities, decent play w/out puck.
But also the same concerns: can he translate this to NHL level?

add. Yes, of course I’m just starting to watch 2022 prospects and didn’t see a lot of Nazar, but doesn’t see a lot of troubles regarding his skating

 

[NHL Dude 120]

If you've heard of him, Ottawa won't draft him.

Why not?

 

[SevenOfSpades]

Why not?

Just poking fun at a tendency for Ottawa to go with very off the board picks.

 

[Osakahaus]

Just watched his shift by shift compilation. He really reminds me of Nikita Kucherov at the same age. I mean style of play. The same skill set: soft hands, lethal wrist shot, playmaking abilities, decent play w/out puck.
But also the same concerns: can he translate this to NHL level?

add. Yes, of course I’m just starting to watch 2022 prospects and didn’t see a lot of Nazar, but doesn’t see a lot of troubles regarding his skating

Nobody is like Kuch. You honestly can't say that yet because it took Kucherov a good while to get to his dominator form

 

[QJL]

I completely agree - he's a natural winger... not a center.

I adamantly disagree. Nazar’s ability to create offense from the middle of the ice, particularly on the rush, is unparalleled in this draft. Offensively, he is a natural center. The question is whether he can handle defensive center responsibilities at the NHL level.

 

[NHL Dude 120]

Just poking fun at a tendency for Ottawa to go with very off the board picks.

Aahh ok yeah.

 

[ValeriKamensky]

Nobody is like Kuch. You honestly can't say that yet because it took Kucherov a good while to get to his dominator form

Yes, but it’s just about style of play. It’s not a level comparison

 

[Osakahaus]

Yes, but it’s just about style of play. It’s not a level comparison

thats fair at least

 

[Nabrules]

Been the best player on the u18 team since mid December

 

[NekkiChiconey]

Been the best player on the u18 team since mid December

So... more than half the season? Honestly I don't get that mainstream scouting firms consistently rank Cooley 2nd and Nazar around 10th. To me he's probably the most dynamic player in this draft when he is near the puck.

 

[montreal]

 

[QJL]

Nazar had an outstanding game today. Making a strong case to be a top 5 pick.

 

[KevSkillz4]

Big potential. One of my target for Habs if they don't pick top 3. Really like his game.

 

[Number1RedWingsFan52]

Greig-Stutzle-Nazar

Yeah maybe 4 years down the road when he leaves the University of Michigan.

 

[Number1RedWingsFan52]

Wings are in free fall, Frank Nazar will be drafted by his hometown Red Wings.

 

[Fistfullofbeer]

The Elite Prospects group did a ranking of top-6 prospects and had Nazar ahead of Cooley as well as Slaf in their rankings. They also had some combination of Jiricek/Nemec going 2/3 after Wright.

 

[SimGrindcore]

The Elite Prospects group did a ranking of top-6 prospects and had Nazar ahead of Cooley as well as Slaf in their rankings. They also had some combination of Jiricek/Nemec going 2/3 after Wright.

He's definately in my Top-5. But not above Cooley and Slaf.