Blackhawks Prospect Nick Lardis Is Unstoppable And Continues To Etch His name In The History Books

Chicago Blackhawks top prospect Nick Lardis has treated the Ontario Hockey League this season like he's an NHL video game and he's controlling his "Be A Pro" character.

Since day one of the 2024-25 season, his performance has been nothing short of spectacular. Lardis is giving every Blackhawks fan something to smile about this season, which they need considering Chicago has had yet another dreadful year. 

The Brantford Bulldogs' superstar right winger recently became the first OHL player to score 60 goals in a season since Justin Brazeau did it in 2018-19 as a member of the North Bay Battalion. 

On Sunday, Feb. 23, Lardis continued his torrid scoring pace and etched his name in Brantford's history books with yet another hat trick performance.

The Bulldogs took on the Ottawa 67's to finish off their weekend. Team Canada's Head Coach at the World Juniors Dave Cameron had a front-row view to watch Lardis score his seventh hat trick of the season, improving his goal total to 63. 

Lardis added an assist, capping off a four-point performance, setting a new Bulldogs record for most points in a single season with 103, and counting. 

"It's impressive," Chicago Blackhawks Head Coach Anders Sorensen told reporters on Sunday, per Phillip Thompson of the Chicago Tribune.

"We saw him a little bit last year in Rockford (AHL) for a game. He came in for the last two weeks of the season. You could really see the potential and ceiling of his talent level and it seems like he's really put it together this year."  

Arthur Kaliyev previously held the title for most points in a season with 102 in 2018-19. Lardis is only nine goals away from tying Kaliyev for the most goals in franchise history. 

Brantford has ten games remaining on the schedule. If Lardis plays every game — which he should since they're in a race for first in the East — then hitting the 70-goal mark isn't that far-fetched. 

Lardis has recorded 17 multi-goal games this season. He loves scoring in bunches and Brantford is one of the hottest teams in the OHL right now going 8-1-1 in their last ten.

The Bulldogs have several tough matchups on the horizon against Oshawa, London, Saginaw, Kingston, and Brampton. 

However, the other five games are against weaker competition — Peterborough, North Bay, Ottawa, and Sudbury and Flint could put up a fight. 

If Lardis can muster up seven more goals, he will be the first OHL player to score 70 in a season since John Tavares did it in 2006-07 as a member of the Oshawa Generals, which he did as a 16-year-old by the way. 

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