Rockford IceHogs and Chicago Blackhawks forward Nick Lardis (76) (Source: Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images)Elite Prospects projects Rockford IceHogs' Nick Lardis (11 goals, 11 assists, 22 points) will score 39 goals, 39 assists 78 points to put up the highest points by a rookie in the AHL since Norfolk Admirals' Cory Conacher put up 80 points in the 2011-12 season.
Lardis' 39 goals would also break former Rockford product Matthew Highmore's 24 goals set in 2017-18 for most rookie franchise goals, while his 39 assists would just eclipse former IceHog Adam Clendening's 37 rookie franchise helpings set back in his 2012-13 season.
His 78 points would completely shatter Lukas Reichel's 57 rookie franchise points set when the then 19-year-old German debuted in the AHL.
Lardis is a 2023 third-round pick for the Chicago Blackhawks. Before turning 20 and becoming eligible for the AHL, the Oakville native put up a mammoth 117 points in his final season for the OHL Brantford Bulldogs.
The transition has clearly been a smooth process.