Nazar leaned on Kesler to navigate draft-year adversity

SPORTSCENTRE Reporter

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Frank Nazar feels underrated among this year's National Hockey League draft class and he thinks he knows why. 

"Towards the end of the season, I was going through an injury, and I wasn't able to play as well as I probably could've," the U.S. National Team Development Program centre explained. 

Issues with both his shoulder and groin hampered Nazar's play at the under-18 world championship in Germany where the United States took home the silver medal. 

"I didn't really get to showcase what I could [do]," said Nazar. "I talked to [volunteer assistant coach] Ryan Kesler about it, and he helped a lot with just pushing through the adversity and being able to play. I just wanted to help the team win and I couldn't miss that for anything. It's something I had to be there to do. There was just no way that was going to stop me."

Days after the gold-medal loss to Sweden, NHL Central Scouting posted its final rankings. Nazar fell from 17 to 21 on the list of North American skaters. 

"I was looking at those and I was like, I can't say low, because thankfully I'm pretty high up there, but I just feel like I know that I'm better than a few of the guys above me," the 18-year-old said. 

Nazar came in No. 15 on the final list of prospects compiled by TSN Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie, which was down just one spot from the mid-season rankings. 

From @CraigJButton: Scouting capsules on the Top 32 #NHLDraft prospects by @TSNBobMcKenzie… Korchinski: https://t.co/jof87XnLkB Mintyukov: https://t.co/ePbWmxpPRs Geekie: https://t.co/sMvnqTBxM6 Yurov: https://t.co/rz0BPxCVAl Nazar: https://t.co/hDLbSOI8V7#TSNHockey pic.twitter.com/Ip9IbXVpC8

Nazar got hurt when he crashed hard into the boards following a