While the player he worshipped as a kid was scoring his first goal as a Detroit Red Wing , Nick Lardis was burying three of his own.
Now, the Chicago Blackhawks prospect sits tied for second in goals in the Ontario Hockey League with 23. In his last 10 games, Lardis has 16 points with nine coming as goals. Fellow Blackhawks prospect Gavin Hayes also has 35 points (19-16) but with two games in hand.
Hat Trick Powers Rally
Lardis’ third goal came in overtime, completing a comeback and that also tallied his fourth point of the game.
The Bulldogs rally pulled them into a tie for first place in the East Division, while continuing to shine a light on the type of steal the Blackhawks may have gotten taken Lardis in the third round at the 2023 Draft. He’s on pace to crush 50 goals by a mile with it equaling out to a projected total of 58.
The numbers he’s putting up reminds of Alex DeBrincat, who consistently put up gawdy numbers with the Erie Otters. DeBrincat did have Connor McDavid with him, but he still buried 65 without him and then made the leap to the NHL the following season.
If Lardis can push to the 50 mark and beyond, it has to be a good shot that he gets a hard look to make the team next season. He’s already beyond the half way point of his goals last season, which totaled 37. 40 seems likely if all goes well health wise while 50 really seems more and more possible.
But the most important part for Blackhawks fans and the organization? The wings in the pipeline are surely shaping out to be something special and it’s headlined by Nick Lardis.
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