Blackhawks prospect Nick Lardis is a ‘goal-scoring machine,’ and he wants to translate that

If the OHL was the NHL, Blackhawks prospect forward Nick Lardis would be Alex Ovechkin.

Some of the stats that Lardis, the Brantford Bulldogs’ 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.

Lardis, one of the Hawks’ 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.

“He’s a goal-scoring machine,” said Marek Vanacker, his Brantford teammate and fellow Hawks prospect.

Lardis has always been an excellent scorer — he buried 66 goals in 106 games over the last two seasons — but this is a new level, even for him.

“His skating and the offensive production has always been impressive to us,” Hawks general manager Kyle Davidson said. “But when you’re scoring almost a goal a game, that’s something beyond the standard.”

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.

It’s worth noting, however, the OHL’s 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.

Lardis is aware that the OHL is not the NHL and that scoring consistently in the latter league is much more difficult.

That’s why, during this honeymoon stage of his career — where he can basically do whatever he wants against inferior competition — he’s focused on scoring on OHL goalies in ways that he believes could work against NHL goalies, too. Sure, he could beat them with shots from the perimeter, but he might as well gain experience now scoring closer in around the net.

“[I’m trying to] be more consistent getting to the net, being a little more physical around the net and making sure I’m in good position to be open for scoring chances,” Lardis said.

Davidson said he’s optimistic Lardis’ scoring touch will translate to the pro level — not this exact rate, of course, but well enough — based on the types of goals he has scored.

“He’s getting into those high-danger scoring areas,” Davidson said. “Now, 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’s a concerted effort to get closer to the net, and [he’s] also creating shot opportunities that are either one-touch or very quickly off his stick…that’s what he’s done really well this year. You hope that progresses.”

The Hawks have talked to Lardis about positioning his body — which isn’t particularly big at 5-11, 180 pounds — to protect the puck. They’ve sent him video examples of current NHL players, such as Wild star Kirill Kaprizov, doing that effectively that he can use as models.

“[I’ve been] looking at [Kaprizov’s] body protection and how he wins battles on the wall and uses his body to create space in the offensive zone,” Lardis said. “Even as a winger in the defensive zone, he makes plays on the wall just like myself.”

The Hawks’ 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’s no guarantee Lardis becomes such a weapon, but his trajectory suggests it’s possible.

Vanacker seeking rhythm

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.

The best news on Vanacker is that he’s 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 “good as new.”

His production hasn’t jumped off the page yet, though. He personally feels like he’s 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.

“Getting back used to the game speed and the tempo and getting the timing right has been a big part of my game,” Vanacker said. “As I continue to do that, I’ll probably see more improvement.”

Said Davidson: “The 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’s going to come.”

The Hawks like Vanacker’s 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 “scrappy side.”

“We knew [when] drafting Marek that he was going to have this surgery,” Davidson added. “We 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.”