Chicago Style Frank's Jumbo Contract

👋 Good morning!

Caleb Williams. Patrick Mahomes. Ben Johnson. Andy Reid.

It’s a matchup we hope to see again in Santa Clara in 170 days.

For now, we’ll have to settle for a Friday in August.

The good news? After tonight, next up is Week 1.

– Patrick Norton

Tailgate With Us!

What: CHGO Bears Official Tailgate

Where: Wabash & Cermak

When: Before every Bears home game

Perks: Beers, barbecue, vibes and a shuttle to the stadium

🎟️ Week 1 - Monday Night Football 🎟️

The Chicago Blackhawks officially announced a seven-year contract extension for forward Frank Nazar worth roughly $6.6 million per season. The deal, which kicks in after this upcoming season, keeps Nazar in Chicago through the 2032-33 season.

Nazar’s deal is the richest in NHL history for a player with as little experience at the NHL level (56 games played), surpassing Kirill Kaprizov’s $45 million extension after 55 games.

In 53 games last season, Nazar, 21, only tallied 26 points (12 goals, 14 assists). But his speed and play style evolved as the season went on, leading to a nine-point burst over the course of the team’s final eight games of the year.
GM Kyle Davidson on Nazar: “Frank elevated his game last season and has proven himself to be one of the top young talents in the league. He drives play using his elite speed and playmaking abilities, creating problems for opponents and opportunities for teammates every night. Frank is an integral piece of our team, and we’re thrilled to have him with us for the next eight seasons.”

I asked CHGO Blackhawks’ Jay Zawaski to share his thoughts on the deal:

“This deal is exciting on many levels.

One, it shows a belief from both sides. Kyle Davidson and the Blackhawks are betting that Frank Nazar is going to be a star. Nazar is also betting that Chicago is the place he's going to want to be five, six, seven, eight years from now.

Secondly, it's another potential bargain deal for a core player. Ryan Donato (4 $4 million), Alex Vlasic (5 x $4.6 million), and now Nazar (7 x $6.59 million) should all perform above their pay grades.

When you factor in the expected cap growth on top of already bargain prices, the Hawks will be in excellent shape to sign Connor Bedard long-term and add a few key pieces to solidify what Davidson has already built.”

Thanks, Jay!

MORE: Mario Tirabassi on the latest piece of the Blackhawks’ future puzzle

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KING YUCK: Kyle Tucker returned to the Cubs’ lineup on Thursday for the first time since Craig Counsell said he’d give the slugging right fielder some days off to “reset.”

As it turns out, a two-day break wasn’t long enough. Tucker went 0-4 with a walk, a rolled-over groundout and a soft-liner double play.

In fairness to Tucker, that was the story for the Cubs’ entire offense in Thursday’s series finale. The Cubs finished the day 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position, stranding 11 runners total.

Instead of wrapping up a successful five-game series against the Brewers and gaining three games in the NL Central race, Thursday’s loss is a big setback, essentially nullifying the lift from sweeping Tuesday’s doubleheader paired with Wednesday’s win.

Brewers 4, Cubs 1

DOUBLE TROUBLE: Kamilla Cardoso and Angel Reese each picked up a double-double in Thursday night’s upset victory over the New York Liberty. Cardoso and Reese combined for 43 points and 25 rebounds. Ariel Atkins added 19 points, five rebounds and five assists.

The win snapped the Sky’s five-game losing streak and secured their second win in their last 15 games.

Sky 91, Liberty 85

TO THE RAFTERS: The Bulls announced they will officially raise Derrick Rose’s No. 1 jersey into the rafters with a special ceremony on January 24, 2026 before a 7 p.m. game against the Boston Celtics.

MORE: Big Dave graded the Bulls’ roster…using albums???