"I think it's going to be great. I'm really excited to see what happens."
With Bedard out, Nazar, the No. 13 pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, is penciled in the No. 1 center between forwards Roman Kantserov and Patrick Kane heading into Chicago's season opener at the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday (10:30 p.m. ET; ESPN, TVAS2). Bedard, the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, had surgery on his left shoulder after sustaining an injury during an offseason training session in Vancouver on July 2. The 21-year-old has been skating and taking shots, but he's still not expected back until November.
In the meantime, Nazar has been adjusting to Kane and Kantserov during training camp and said playing with Kane has made the process easier.
"It's the small things of where passes are going to be, passes on your tape, next plays," said Nazar, who had 41 points (15 goals, 26 assists) in 66 games in 2025-26 and is entering the first season of a seven-year, $46.13 million contract ($6.59 million average annual value) he signed with the Blackhawks on Aug. 21, 2025. "Just having a guy like (Kane) opens space for other guys because the other team has to respect a guy who can make plays and done what he's done.
"It definitely helps a lot, but at the end of the day he goes out there and he puts in the work and earns it."
Kane returns to Chicago, where the 37-year-old helped win the Stanley Cup in 2010, 2013 and 2015. He has played with many talented centers throughout his career, including former Chicago captain Jonathan Toews, Dylan Strome and Brad Richards, as well as Andrew Copp and J.T. Compher during his time with the Detroit Red Wings from 2023-26.
But Kane said Nazar reminds him most of Utah Mammoth forward Nick Schmaltz, who played for the Blackhawks from 2016-19.
"The way he could create speed up the middle, being a right-handed shot, obviously a very skilled player," Kane said. "Both are great skaters, both young guys when I played with them. I think it's going to be important to get as many reps as we can, try to keep building our chemistry through communication, through reps, through different circumstances we play in. Sometimes things happen fast, sometimes they take a little bit."
Chicago coach Jeff Blashill said Nazar "had a really good summer."
"He looks stronger on the puck in puck battles, which was something he and I talked about," Blashill said. "He's controlled the puck better. I think he has a lot of skill. At the end of the day, we have to have the puck more, and specifically he can help us a lot with that in winning those puck battles and not being careless with the puck.
"Making sure that if there's a chance to make a play, he sees it and makes it but not making a whole bunch of hope plays, just making sure he's not just giving it away for no reason, which I think he's done a really good job. He looks like he's poised to be in a good spot to have a real good start."
The Blackhawks made other significant roster adjustments during the offseason, including adding defenseman Bowen Byram in a trade with the Buffalo Sabres on June 23. Byram completed a hat trick in overtime in his Chicago debut on Monday, a 4-3 preseason overtime win against the Minnesota Wild. More young prospects, including forwards Anton Frondell and Kantserov, are also expected to contribute.
So despite not having Bedard for a significant amount of time to start the season, Nazar and the Blackhawks still believe the time to find success again is now.
He's certainly willing to do his part.
"Look at the steps we've taken as a group over the last couple of years," Nazar said. "We've all been together … how many young guys are here together, how many guys who have been here for the last couple of years and steps that we're taking, and we're just going to continue to take large steps as a group. We have a great staff, a great team. I've never been part of a team I've enjoyed being around as much as this one.
"I'm good with whatever you throw me. Need me to step up, I'll try to step up and play a different role. Whatever it takes to win."
