Nick Lardis

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