Chicago Blackhawks Prospect Hits The 60-Goal Mark, But Has His Incredible Goal-Scoring Stretch Stopped

The Chicago Blackhawks are second-last in the NHL standings with a mere 41 points in 55 games. Additionally, they have only scored 149 goals, the fifth-fewest overall. 

There is a clear need for more talent and firepower so their superstar franchise centerman Connor Bedard doesn't have to do it all himself. 

Lucky for the Blackhawks and their fans, the team has one of the most dangerous goal-scorers outside of the NHL, and that is Brantford Bulldogs winger Nick Lardis. 

We recently wrote an article breaking down what makes the Blackhawks 2023 third-rounder such a lethal shooter. 

This past Thursday, Feb. 20, Brantford traveled to Peterborough to take on the Petes, the team that drafted Lardis sixth overall in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection. 

Lardis came into the game with 57 goals. Well, in fitting fashion, he rattled off his sixth hat trick of the season in just two periods to reach the 60-goal mark.

Thirteen days after reaching the 50-goal mark against the Saginaw Spirit, Lardis scored his 60th goal of the season with a fitting powerplay one-timer.

Lardis is the first OHL player to score 60 goals in a single season since Justin Brazeau did so in the 2018-19 season with the North Bay Battalion. 

Brazeau scored his 60th goal in game number 65 of the season that year. Lardis scored his 60th in game number 55. 

The last time we've seen an OHL player score at such a consistent and rapid pace, recording multi-goal performances game after game was Peterborough Petes' Nick Robertson in 2019-20 when he scored 55 goals in 46 games. 

On Friday, Feb. 21, the Kingston Frontenacs neutralized Lardis and put an end to his outstanding 17-game goal-scoring stretch. During that run, he scored 28 goals, a run that Bulldogs fans will forever remember. 

The favorite to win the OHL regular season MVP at this point of the season is probably the projected top-five pick in the upcoming NHL draft, Michael Misa.

However, it's hard to argue that Lardis' name is not in the same category, and voters will face a very difficult choice between the two.