Nick Lardis - Sept. 21 Blackhawks Media Availability

The Chicago Blackhawks have a steal in Nick Lardis and he just continues to get better and impress in the OHL. The Blackhawks' prospect has joined rare company as one of only eight players to score 50 goals in less than 50 games in the OHL since the year 2000.

Lardis did so in 49 games and followed up the game he reached the milestone with a two goal performance. He now sits at 52 goals and 86 points in 50 games this season and is well on his way to arriving in the NHL sooner than later with his offensive ability.

The other players in the last 25 years to score 50 goals in less than 50 games in the OHL are as follows: Nick Robertson (43 games played), Dane Fox (43 GP), John Tavares (44 GP), Brett MacLean (45 GP), Tye Felhaber (47 GP), Patrick Kane (47 GP), and Randy Rowe (47 GP).

While Lardis did reach 50 goals in more games than all of them, Fox and Rowe never played a game in the NHL, Maclean played 18 games over two seasons, and Felhaber just made his NHL debut at age 26 this season with the Colorado Avalanche, appearing in just five games. On the other hand, Tavares and Kane went first overall in their drafts and have been superstars their entire careers.

At this stage, Chicago has a very promising prospect and they drafted him in the third round in 2023. I believe he will fall somewhere in the middle. He didn't get the treatment of a first overall pick and didn't accomplish the feat before being drafted, but he looks like a player that will make it to the NHL and be able to score goals. The fact that he wasn't considered for Team Canada at the World Juniors this year is another conversation.

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Blackhawks Prospect Nick Lardis Joins Elite OHL Group With 50 Goal Performance