Nazar's natural skating ability raises profile as 2022 NHL Draft prospect

The 2022 NHL Draft is scheduled to be held July 7-8. Every two weeks, NHL.com will take a closer look at some of the draft-eligible players to watch.

Frank Nazar didn't realize it at the time, but when he attended a "Learn to Skate" program as a child, his ability to switch into overdrive made him stand out among the others.
"The program was in Mount Clemens (Michigan) and I think I was 5 years old at the time," Nazar said. "I went with a few of my school buddies. We were all like, 'All right, let's try to learn.' I guess it was kind of meant to be ... I get on the ice and all my buddies are holding on to their stretchers and I'm kind of just doing circles around half the rink. After that day, they said to me, 'You actually know how to skate,' so they moved me to playing hockey in the house league. I guess it almost came natural."
Fast forward 13 years, and Nazar is now considered by many to be one of the best skaters with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program Under-18 Team. He's also complemented that skill with a scorer's mentality.
The 18-year-old center (5-foot-10, 175 pounds), No. 17 in NHL Central Scouting's midterm ranking of North American skaters, is tied with forward Isaac Howard for the NTDP lead with 58 points (23 goals, 35 assists) and tied with forward Logan Cooley for second with five power-play goals in 44 games.
"He's a kid that plays the game at such a high pace; even games where he's not noticeably productive on the scoresheet, he's creating chances and putting pressure," NHL Central Scouting senior manager David Gregory said. "You'll see some teams just back off as soon as he gets the puck because if they don't, they're going to get burned because he can fly with and without the puck. He's not the biggest guy, but I don't think that'll hold him back."

In addition to being a strong skater and point producer, the right-handed shot also has become an expert in deception.
"When I'm coming down on a defender, I watch their toes because that's basically where their momentum is going," Nazar said. "If you can get them to force you to the outside and they have a bad angle towards the boards, you can cut to the middle and skate by them and it's an opportunity. Sometimes you've got to fake the middle, so he'll turn his feet towards the middle and then it's one cut outside and you got him beat. To me, everything's a read-and-react to how the defender is positioned, but you also have to know who you're going against."
Nazar feels lucky his father owned a parking garage across the street from Joe Louis Arena in Detroit.
"He'd park all the people that would come watch the Red Wings games and, through that, he kind of became a fan," Nazar said. "He'd park the cars and go watch the games and then when people come out, they'd be like, 'What a game.' That kind of got him into hockey.
"I remember walking into his room, and he was watching a game and asked me if I wanted to play. I was like, 'Yeah, it looks like fun,' and that's when I went to the Learn to Skate program. I was raised on Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg."
He's committed to the University of Michigan in 2022-23.
"I'm really excited to go there," Nazar said. "Just from being a hometown guy from Michigan and having my family be able to come to the games. I know they love to attend NTDP games now. Growing up, I've always been a huge Michigan fan, so it's almost like a dream to play for the program."
PROSPECTS ON THE RADAR (listed alphabetically):
Lian Bichsel, D, Leksand (SWE): Bichsel (6-5, 216), born in Wolfwil, Switzerland, has scored three points (one goal, two assists) in 29 games in his first season in the Swedish Hockey League, the top professional men's league in Sweden. He ranks fifth on Leksand with 28 hits and is averaging 11:48 of ice time. Recognized as a two-way defenseman, the 17-year-old is No. 14 in NHL Central Scouting's midterm ranking of International skaters.
"His skating and mobility have improved a lot during the fall and so has his confidence," NHL director of European scouting Goran Stubb said. "He plays with authority, using his size and strength well in battles and 1-on-1 situations. He likes to play physical and aggressive, inside the rules."
Dylan James, LW, Sioux City (USHL): James (6-0, 181) ranks second among rookies in the United States Hockey League with 41 points (16 goals, 25 assists) and is tied for first with seven power-play goals in 48 games. Ranked No. 67 in NHL Central Scouting's midterm ranking of North American skaters, the 18-year-old is committed to the University of North Dakota in 2022-23.
"He's got a nice short passing game in the offensive zone and offers a quick release coming off his wing in stride," said Greg Rajanen of NHL Central Scouting. "He plays in all situations and is tough to handle down low ... he's solid in battle areas."
Miko Matikka, RW, Jokerit Jr. (FIN): The right-handed shot (6-3, 187), born in Helsinki, Finland, will attend the University of Denver in 2022-23. The 18-year-old, No. 39 in NHL Central Scouting's midterm ranking of International skaters, has scored 30 points (16 goals, 14 assists) in 28 games with Jokerit's Under-20 team in Finland's junior league.
"A strong two-way power-forward who uses his size, strength and reach well," Stubb said. "He's got a very good set of skills, and his puck handling and passing skills are very good. He has smooth hands, knows how to cover the puck well, is good in traffic and is capable beating an opponent 1-on-1."
Prospects Game set for Wednesday
Shane Wright, projected to be the No. 1 pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, is among 40 players invited to play in the 2022 Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game at Kitchener Memorial Auditorium in Kitchener, Ontario, on Wednesday (8 p.m. ET).
Wright (6-foot, 185 pounds), a right-shot center with Kingston of the Ontario Hockey League, is 12th in the OHL with 73 points (25 goals, 48 assists) in 50 games. The 18-year-old, No. 1 in NHL Central Scouting's midterm ranking of North American skaters eligible for the 2022 NHL Draft, has scored 10 points (four goals, six assists) in his past four games.
"He shows up every night, is a leader, plays every situation and does what it what it takes all over the ice," said Joey Tenute of NHL Central Scouting. "Any coach can rely on a player like that to not only provide offense, but also be an all-around leader of a team and lead by example type of guy."
Photos: Rena Laverty/NTDP