Chicago Blackhawks select Nick Lardis No. 67 overall in 2023 NHL Draft

The Chicago Blackhawks have selected forward Nick Lardis with the No. 67 overall selection in the 2023 NHL Draft.

Lardis last played for the Hamilton Bulldogs, now Brantford Bulldogs, of the Ontario Hockey League.

Lardis had a rollercoaster of a season. He started the year off strong with the Peterborough Petes, but come OHL trade deadline day, he was moved to the Bulldogs so the Petes could load up on a run to the OHL Final. Upon arriving in Hamilton, he was given a better opportunity to showcase his strengths, according to BUlldogs head coach and former NHL player Jay McKee.

Lardis notched 25 goals and 46 points in 33 games with the Bulldogs, scoring at an impressive 1.39 point per game average. Combined with his totals with the Petes, Lardis tallied 37 goals this season, ranking 17th among OHL skaters. He added an additional five goals and 10 points in the OHL Playoffs. He represented Canada at the IIHF World U18 Championship, where he kept finding the back of the net, scoring four goals in five games and winning a bronze medal. Lardis saw a massive jump in Central Scouting’s rankings, going from 96th among North American skaters to 27th.

Lardis’s patience and offensive awareness allow him to anticipate plays and make his move to get to the prime scoring slots. Daily Faceoff Senior Prospect Analyst Steven Ellis weighed in on the Bulldogs sniper, saying “Lardis is a player I kept a close eye on for a few years now, and it was great to see him really thrive. He has an excellent release, and I’m glad he gained the confidence to use it. He’s an accurate passer with good speed and agility. His play away from the puck, namely defensively and physically, still needs a bit of work, but I think he’ll get there. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him hit 50 goals next year in the OHL.”

Lardis will join a prospect pipeline that features players like Connor Bedard, Oliver Moore, Kevin Korchinski, Frank Nazar and more. He will return to the OHL for the 2023-24 season, with big things expected for the forward.