Before the Blackhawks resumed practicing Tuesday, rookie forward Frank Nazar was the first player on the ice at Fifth Third Arena, beating even Connor Bedard.
This past nine-day break during the 4 Nations Face-Off gave the Hawks a mental and physical reset before the final third of their season, with 55 games down and 27 to go.
For Nazar, however, it marked basically the halfway point of his own NHL season, allowing him to reflect on his first 26 appearances. He feels immensely more comfortable now than he did when initially called up in December.
“[I] came in today really happy to be here — smiling, saying hi to everybody, knowing everybody is nice,” Nazar said.
“[This break was] perfect, right down the middle, so I know what I’m getting into. I’m like, ‘This is what it’s going to be like for the next couple months.’ Hopefully it’ll be a lot better, knowing how my body feels. [I can] treat my body a lot better and have a better routine all around.”
Nazar, 21, tallied a modest 10 points (four goals and six assists) in those 26 games, although that number could’ve been a few ticks higher had his luck around the net been better.
He continues to resemble a possible top-six forward for the Hawks for years to come. Although he hasn’t lit the world on fire yet, he also hasn’t done anything to diminish that optimism.
He’s focused on improving his off-ice conditioning and energy management moving forward. Between the AHL and NHL, he has already played in 47 games this season — a much larger workload than he has ever handled before. He played in only 54 games during his two college years at Michigan combined.
“[It’s about] knowing when is the right time to do less,” he said. “You want to work, work, work, but finding time to recover.”
With the Hawks approaching a stretch of 10 games in 17 days — starting Saturday at the Blue Jackets and Sunday vs. the Maple Leafs — his fitness will be immediately tested. He might have to occasionally skip morning skates, for example, as many veterans do all the time.
“It’s a learning curve for those guys, and that’s an area for him to understand that it’s not just the games,” Hawks interim coach Sorensen said. “It’s [about] how you manage yourself off the ice, how you manage your morning skates — or not — and just taking care [of yourself]. That’s a big part for a young player to be consistent.”
After the rest of the Hawks joined Nazar on the ice Tuesday, Sorensen ran them through a skating-heavy practice to get their legs back. He plans to work on more technical and tactical topics Wednesday and beyond, using this week to make some adjustments he didn’t have time to make back when he got promoted on the fly.
The Hawks have gone 9-15-5 under Sorensen so far, earning 23 points in those 29 games. That’s slightly better than the 18 points they earned in 26 games under ex-coach Luke Richardson to begin the season. For their final 27 games, 27 points — a point-per-game pace — might represent a reasonably ambitious yet attainable target.
“I’m not looking to next year,” Bedard said, “but if we have a really good stretch here in the next bit and you feel good about yourself and our group going into summer and going into next year, that’s big.”
Forward Teuvo Teravainen, who received surprisingly little ice time for Finland in 4 Nations, was absent Tuesday but should be back soon. All the Hawks said they’ve enjoyed watching the tournament, with Bedard calling it “the highest level of hockey ever played.”
Defenseman Louis Crevier (concussion) participated in practice in a non-contact jersey and might play Saturday, Sorensen said. Forward Jason Dickinson (ankle) remains two or three weeks away.