Could Nazar Lead Blackhawks in Points Over Bedard?
Frank Nazar got off to a hot start in the Chicago Blackhawks' season opener against the Florida Panthers, scoring a goal and an assist. He then followed that up with another assist in the second game of the 2025-26 season against the Boston Bruins. At this point of the season (which is very early), he second-year center leads the team in points. Could we have a race on our hands between Nazar and Connor Bedard?
After no points in the opener, Bedard got on the board for the Blackhawks with a goal and an assist himself in the second game. Along with three other forwards, these are the five players that are expected to be the top-5 scorers on the team by the end of the season.
Nazar is playing well over 20 minutes per game already as the second line center, but Bedard is a sliver short of 22 minutes per game through two games. Both are going to continue to be leaned on, which is a good thing if they are driving play and producing.
Bedard has been the Blackhawks' leader in points in each of his first two seasons in the NHL, recording 61 and 67 points. Nazar hasn't had the full season to challenge him yet, and Nazar does have the skill and ability as a 13th overall pick one year prior to Bedard being drafted by Chicago.
Nazar has only played 58 career games in the NHL compared to Bedard's 152, but the latter has the much better points-per-game to this point. It is a new season though, and both of the young centers have equally capable wingers to complement them. Chicago still hasn't managed to surround Bedard, or Nazar for that case, with elite players yet, so they are on pretty even playing ground. Both are on the top power play, and there are 80 games left to see who finishes on top.
One thing that Blackhawks fans should be excited about is that these two appear to be set to push each other to succeed and get better and it should be a fun race.
Browns naming Shedeur Sanders QB2 unlikely to change playing situation

After it was announced that rookie third-round pick Dillon Gabriel had officially been named the Cleveland Browns’ starting quarterback, there were a lot of questions about why fellow rookie Shedeur Sanders wasn’t moving up the depth chart, as well.
With only two healthy quarterbacks on the roster, though, head coach Kevin Stefanski told the media that Sanders would be the primary backup.
Browns had good reason to keep Shedeur Sanders low on the depth chart
We covered the reason that Sanders hadn’t been named QB2 when team’s initial starter Joe Flacco was demoted. Essentially, Cleveland didn’t want Sanders’ introduction to the NFL to be him running an offensive game plan designed for a shorter, shiftier, left-handed quarterback in a desperation setting.
Not wanting to see Sanders struggle early, the Browns resolved to keep him off the field unless he was ready to run a game plan designed around his capabilities.
This thought process led the team to keep Flacco ahead of Sanders on the depth chart, thinking that Flacco’s leadership and experience would make him more well-suited to the uncomfortable situation of running an unfamiliar offensive game plan than Sanders. But then, a surprise trade removed Flacco as an option as he made his way southwest to Cincinnati.
Even with Flacco out of the picture, though, the Browns weren’t quite ready to commit to naming Sanders the primary backup behind Gabriel, likely for the same reason as previously mentioned. The primary Browns starter, Deshaun Watson, remains on the reserve/physically unable to perform list, where he’s likely to remain as he recovers from multiple tears to his Achilles tendon, but there was one other option.
Browns were considering another QB to be No. 2
Practice squad quarterback Bailey Zappe was the other name in consideration for the QB2 role. Zappe started eight games over his first two years in the league with the Patriots and even got a start in Cleveland last year. While he may not give the Browns a better chance at winning than Sanders, his use as a backup would protect Sanders from having to run Gabriel’s offense in his first NFL snaps.
Ultimately, Sanders got the job. It’s hard to say whether it was Sanders who advocated to play regardless of the offensive game plan or if the coaches resolved finally to just put their best arms on the field. Regardless, the first man off the bench behind Gabriel will be his draft classmate taken two rounds later.
Dillon Gabriel's starting job not in jeopardy
Gabriel shouldn’t have to worry about his own job, though. According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, Gabriel is expected to get a pretty “lengthy run” as the starter. Even with Sanders rising in the ranks behind him, Gabriel should have a fairly long lead with which he can find his sea legs. Sanders may get a run of his own down the line, but for now, he’ll be available off the sideline in case of injury.