Blackhawks prospect Nick Lardis becomes 8th OHLer to score 70 goals in season
Chicago Blackhawks prospect Nick Lardis notched his 70th goal of the 2024-25 campaign on Saturday evening for the Brantford Bulldogs of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).
Lardis has now tallied 70 goals and 44 assists for 114 points on the season; his previous career-high for goals was 29.
The 19-year-old was originally selected in the third round of the 2023 NHL Draft by Chicago.
NICK LARDIS HAS 70 7⃣0⃣🚨
The @NHLBlackhawks prospect and @BulldogsOHL forward registered his second goal of the evening and his 70th goal of the season to become the first player in the #OHL to hit 70 goals since John Tavares in the 2006-07 season!#OHL | @CHLHockey pic.twitter.com/VnokDDMdby
Lardis becomes the eighth OHL player in history to score 70 goals in a regular season. Lardis is the first to do it since Toronto Maple Leafs forward John Tavares notched 70 goals for the Oshawa Generals in 2006-07.
Ernie Godden, the former Windsor Spitfire holds the OHL record for goals with 87 in the 1980-81 season. Others to hit 70 goals include Ray Sheppard (81), Tony Tanti (81), Steve Gatzos (78), Eric Lindros (71) and Doug Gilmour (70).
The Peterborough Petes originally selected Lardis with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection. Lardis debuted with the Petes in the 2021-22 season but struggled to reach his full potential with the club before being traded to the Bulldogs midway through 2022-23.
In 33 games with the Bulldogs immediately after the trade, Lardis collected 25 goals and 46 points. His draft stock skyrocketed accordingly in the second half of the 2022-23 season and he ended up being considered a consensus second or third-round prospect. He also skated for Team Canada at the 2023 IIHF World U18 Championship, scoring four goals in seven games.