Category: The Future

CHICAGO, IL – Frank Nazar is aware of the challenge facing him.

The 20-year-old rookie center is looking to make the Chicago Blackhawks roster out of training camp, but that roster is now much more veteran-heavy after the Blackhawks signed eight players as free agents, including five forwards, on July 1. But Nazar, selected by Chicago with the No. 13 pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, is taking the big-picture approach.

“I just view it as, we’re here to achieve one big goal as a team,” Nazar said Wednesday. “Obviously there are things they need to do and things that our team needs to do and steps we need to take, so if I’m going to be part of that group, I’ve got to work and I’ve got to earn that spot anyway.”

Nazar will start trying to do just that when he plays in the Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcase in Maryland Heights, Missouri, outside of St. Louis, this weekend. The Blackhawks face the St. Louis Blues prospects on Friday and the Minnesota Wild prospects on Saturday.

“Just getting used to the pace of play,” Nazar said of his focus this weekend. “I played college and everything, but just be able to go out there and get my legs back and get the feeling of playing hockey and all the small details. That’s the biggest thing of these games for me.”

DETROIT, MI – Carter Mazur is an intriguing prospect whom I’ve grown to appreciate since he joined the Denver Pioneers in the 2022-23 season. As a sophomore, Mazur went on to become an alternate captain–an impressive feat given the state of the Denver Pioneers roster.

It was a reflection of Mazur’s tenacity, endless motor, and competitive spirit. A great model for other players to follow.

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO – Former Boston College men’s hockey forward Cutter Gauthier (Scottsdale, Ariz.) was named USA Hockey’s 2024 Jim Johannson College Player of the Year, as announced by the organization on Wednesday.

Established in 1994 to recognize the accomplishments of the top American-born player in NCAA Division I men’s college hockey, the Jim Johannson College Player of the Year award is presented annually by USA Hockey. In 2019, it was renamed in honor of the late Jim Johannson, who played college hockey at the University of Wisconsin and spent two decades as an executive at USA Hockey.

Gauthier is the fourth player in program history to earn the award, joining the likes of Mike Mottau (2000), Nathan Gerbe (2008) and Johnny Gaudreau (2014).

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO – Cutter Gauthier (Scottsdale, Ariz.) has been named the 2024 Bob Johnson Award recipient, USA Hockey announced today. Named in honor of U.S. coaching legend Bob Johnson, the award annually recognizes excellence in international hockey competition.

NEW YORK, NY – New York Rangers President and General Manager Chris Drury announced today that the team has agreed to terms with defenseman Victor Mancini on a two-year, entry-level contract.

Mancini, 21, is coming off his junior season at the University of Nebraska-Omaha where he compiled four goals and six assists for 10 points in 40 games. He ranked tied for fourth on the Mavericks with a plus-7 rating and fifth in shots (78).

In his three collegiate seasons, the Hancock, Michigan native collected four goals and 19 assists for 23 points in 110 games. In 2022-23, he appeared in 32 games for the Mavericks where he logged a career-high eight assists and led all Mavericks with 41 blocked shots. That season he was named NCHC Academic All-Conference and a Distinguished Scholar.