![\"Nick](\"https:\/\/cst.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/3eb5b9e\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/7267x4845+0+0\/resize\/840x560!\/quality\/90\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F7d%2Fe9%2F092db83e4f2fb139f220254ea875%2Flardis2.jpg\")
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If the OHL was the NHL, Blackhawks prospect forward Nick Lardis would be Alex Ovechkin.<\/p>\n
Some of the stats that Lardis, the Brantford Bulldogs\u2019 19-year-old sniper, has produced in junior hockey this season are nothing short of amazing. He leads the OHL with 44 goals in 46 games, five goals ahead of projected top-five pick Michael Misa and 11 ahead of everybody else. He has 32 assists, as well.<\/p>\n
Lardis, one of the Hawks\u2019 2023 third-round picks, has three hat tricks and 12 multi-goal games, three of which have happened recently during an ongoing nine-game goal streak. He also has six games with double-digit shots on goal, including a season-high 15 in one mid-December blowout.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s a goal-scoring machine,\u201d said Marek Vanacker, his Brantford teammate and fellow Hawks prospect.<\/p>\n
Lardis has always been an excellent scorer \u2014 he buried 66 goals in 106 games over the last two seasons \u2014 but this is a new level, even for him.<\/p>\n
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\u201cHis skating and the offensive production has always been impressive to us,\u201d Hawks general manager Kyle Davidson said. \u201cBut when you\u2019re scoring almost a goal a game, that\u2019s something beyond the standard.\u201d<\/p>\n
The last Hawks prospect to lead the OHL in goals was Alex DeBrincat, another non-first-round pick who racked up 65 goals in 63 junior games back in 2016-17. That parallel generates a lot of excitement, considering another DeBrincat could be exactly what Connor Bedard and the Hawks need to complete this rebuild.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s worth noting, however, the OHL\u2019s single-season goal leaders since 2017 have been guys like Justin Brazeau, Nick Robertson and Luke Evangelista, who have developed into NHL-caliber players but certainly not stars.<\/p>\n
Lardis is aware that the OHL is not <\/i>the NHL and that scoring consistently in the latter league is much more difficult.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s why, during this honeymoon stage of his career \u2014 where he can basically do whatever he wants against inferior competition \u2014 he\u2019s focused on scoring on OHL goalies in ways that he believes could work against NHL goalies, too. Sure, he could <\/i>beat them with shots from the perimeter, but he might as well gain experience now scoring closer in around the net.<\/p>\n
“[I\u2019m trying to] be more consistent getting to the net, being a little more physical around the net and making sure I\u2019m in good position to be open for scoring chances,\u201d Lardis said.<\/p>\n
Davidson said he\u2019s optimistic Lardis\u2019 scoring touch will translate to the pro level \u2014 not this exact rate, of course, but well enough \u2014 based on the types of goals he has scored.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s getting into those high-danger scoring areas,\u201d Davidson said. \u201cNow, as you move up the ranks, you have to learn how to get to those areas, because it becomes harder against better defenders. But the fact there\u2019s a concerted effort to get closer to the net, and [he\u2019s] also creating shot opportunities that are either one-touch or very quickly off his stick…that\u2019s what he\u2019s done really well this year. You hope that progresses.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Hawks have talked to Lardis about positioning his body \u2014 which isn\u2019t particularly big at 5-11, 180 pounds \u2014 to protect the puck. They\u2019ve sent him video examples of current NHL players, such as Wild star Kirill Kaprizov, doing that effectively that he can use as models.<\/p>\n
“[I\u2019ve been] looking at [Kaprizov\u2019s] body protection and how he wins battles on the wall and uses his body to create space in the offensive zone,\u201d Lardis said. \u201cEven as a winger in the defensive zone, he makes plays on the wall just like myself.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Hawks\u2019 forward prospect pool is arguably the largest and deepest in the league, but it does somewhat lack high-end prospects who could be future top-six weapons in the NHL. There\u2019s no guarantee Lardis becomes such a weapon, but his trajectory suggests it\u2019s possible.<\/p>\n
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<\/picture>\nProAm Images\/Brantford Bulldogs<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
The Hawks pay close attention to Brantford because they not only have Lardis but also Vanacker, one of their three 2024 first-round picks, playing there.<\/p>\n
The best news on Vanacker is that he\u2019s healthy. He had surgery on a torn labrum in his shoulder back in early June, with a projected return date in early December. He ended up making his OHL season debut Nov. 29, slightly ahead of schedule, and he said his shoulder feels \u201cgood as new.\u201d<\/p>\n
His production hasn\u2019t jumped off the page yet, though. He personally feels like he\u2019s in a slump. He has 19 points (10 goals and nine assists) in 25 games so far, a lower rate than his 82 points in 68 games last season.<\/p>\n
\u201cGetting back used to the game speed and the tempo and getting the timing right has been a big part of my game,\u201d Vanacker said. \u201cAs I continue to do that, I\u2019ll probably see more improvement.\u201d<\/p>\n
Said Davidson: \u201cThe pace and the high motor that he plays with is there all the time. You would like to see a little more offensive production, which would make him feel a little better, but that\u2019s going to come.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Hawks like Vanacker\u2019s versatility. Davidson mentioned how he can be used in both offensive and defensive roles and situations, as well on both special-teams units. They also like his self-described \u201cscrappy side.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe knew [when] drafting Marek that he was going to have this surgery,\u201d Davidson added. \u201cWe knew it was going to be a longer timeline. And with that comes a tougher transition back into your team and into a good league. [We have] zero concerns on our end.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Lardis leads the OHL with an absurd 44 goals in 46 games this season, but he’s focused on scoring in ways that will remain effective once he’s facing pros.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":12461,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12460","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-kansas-city-chiefs"],"yoast_head":"\n