Nick Lardis

April 2025 – Lardis has been a goal-scoring machine for Brantford in the OHL, bouncing back strong after an injury-limited campaign last year. He has recorded 71 goals and 46 assists for 117 points in 65 games played. His shot is straight-up lethal, and he is one of the best pure finishers in Chicago’s system. The question now is whether he can round out his game enough to be more than just a sniper at the next level. Puneet Sharma

June 2023 – Lardis was selected 67th overall by the Blackhawks. Pat Quinn

April 2023 – Nick Lardis has set the OHL on fire since his trade to the Hamilton Bulldogs, scoring 30 goals in 39 regular season and playoff games. This was no flash in the pan either, Lardis is a capable goalscorer with a set of diverse and well-above-average releases. He pairs this with multiple plus-level tools. His passing (when he scans for teammates), skating, and handling are all clear strengths as well. That said, Lardis is a diminutive winger who regularly gets physically overpowered and is quite passive on the defensive side of the puck. There are clear hurdles he will need to overcome to reach the NHL. If he can elevate his skating from very good to great, that transition will be facilitated, as would a heightened defensive engagement and a focus on building lower body strength and leverage mechanics for physical battles. In the middle rounds of the NHL draft, few players typically remain available who possess tangible top-six upside, but if Lardis is available in, say, the fourth round, he will be one of those few. While the risk in selecting him will likely make him fall out of the top-64, he is more than worth the risk beyond that point. Sebastian High