Blackhawks Forward Frank Nazar's Quiet November Can Be Blamed on Several Factors
The Chicago Blackhawks have been struggling as of late, with forward Frank Nazar being a key contributor to their woes. In his first 10 games, Nazar was on pace for 58 points and showed flashes of brilliance, including memorable goals against the Blues and Ducks. However, in his last 12 games, he has seen his shooting percentage plummet to around 10%, with many of his shot attempts being saved.
Nazar's health has been a major factor in his recent slump. He missed two games with what coach Jeff Blashill called a "mid-body" injury and played through the injury feeling less than 100% for a couple of weeks afterward. The injury was likely hip-related, and Nazar has since returned to the ice, stating that he felt more normal after their game against the Wild.
Another factor contributing to Nazar's quiet November is his deployment on the team. Blashill took Nazar off the top power-play unit for a while and had him play second-line wing spot during five-on-five play. However, with injuries to Tyler Bertuzzi and Andre Burakovsky, Nazar was pushed back onto the top unit, where he has been reunited with his regular linemates Teravainen and Bertuzzi.
The chemistry between these three players has been effective, with the Hawks outscoring opponents 7-4 during their ice time together this season. However, during the rest of Nazar's ice time, the Hawks have struggled, outscoring opponents just 9-5 in that same period.
Nazar himself has acknowledged his recent struggles, stating that he has had many great chances and grade-A shots but hasn't been able to capitalize on them. Coach Blashill has also offered advice on how Nazar can improve, suggesting that the player sometimes gets ahead of himself when trying to create offense and needs to slow down.
Finally, there is the grind of a full NHL season, which Nazar is experiencing for the first time. Ebbs and flows in confidence are inevitable, even at this level. Despite his recent struggles, Nazar remains on pace for around 58 points this season, which would be a nice career progression from last year's total.
In summary, Frank Nazar's quiet November can be attributed to several factors, including health issues, deployment changes, his own luck leveling off, and the inevitable grind of a full NHL season. Despite these challenges, Nazar remains a key contributor to the Blackhawks' lineup and will look to bounce back in the coming games.
The Chicago Blackhawks have been struggling as of late, with forward Frank Nazar being a key contributor to their woes. In his first 10 games, Nazar was on pace for 58 points and showed flashes of brilliance, including memorable goals against the Blues and Ducks. However, in his last 12 games, he has seen his shooting percentage plummet to around 10%, with many of his shot attempts being saved.
Nazar's health has been a major factor in his recent slump. He missed two games with what coach Jeff Blashill called a "mid-body" injury and played through the injury feeling less than 100% for a couple of weeks afterward. The injury was likely hip-related, and Nazar has since returned to the ice, stating that he felt more normal after their game against the Wild.
Another factor contributing to Nazar's quiet November is his deployment on the team. Blashill took Nazar off the top power-play unit for a while and had him play second-line wing spot during five-on-five play. However, with injuries to Tyler Bertuzzi and Andre Burakovsky, Nazar was pushed back onto the top unit, where he has been reunited with his regular linemates Teravainen and Bertuzzi.
The chemistry between these three players has been effective, with the Hawks outscoring opponents 7-4 during their ice time together this season. However, during the rest of Nazar's ice time, the Hawks have struggled, outscoring opponents just 9-5 in that same period.
Nazar himself has acknowledged his recent struggles, stating that he has had many great chances and grade-A shots but hasn't been able to capitalize on them. Coach Blashill has also offered advice on how Nazar can improve, suggesting that the player sometimes gets ahead of himself when trying to create offense and needs to slow down.
Finally, there is the grind of a full NHL season, which Nazar is experiencing for the first time. Ebbs and flows in confidence are inevitable, even at this level. Despite his recent struggles, Nazar remains on pace for around 58 points this season, which would be a nice career progression from last year's total.
In summary, Frank Nazar's quiet November can be attributed to several factors, including health issues, deployment changes, his own luck leveling off, and the inevitable grind of a full NHL season. Despite these challenges, Nazar remains a key contributor to the Blackhawks' lineup and will look to bounce back in the coming games.