What Nick Lardis’ arrival to the NHL can mean for the Blackhawks

Posted December 13, 2025 3:25 pm

By Scott Powers

As the Chicago Blackhawks wait to learn the extent of Connor Bedard’s injury from Friday night, they decided Saturday to recall winger Nick Lardis, their strongest offensive prospect in the AHL.

Lardis’ arrival has been highly anticipated by Blackhawks fans after his OHL performance in recent seasons. The 20-year-old Lardis, a 2023 third-round draft pick, was one of the OHL’s most prolific goal scorers before turning pro this season. He scored 71 goals in 65 games in the OHL last season, becoming the league’s first 70-goal scorer since John Tavares, and accumulated 175 goals in 257 career OHL games.

Lardis’ production has carried over this season. He has 13 goals and 13 assists in 24 games for the Rockford IceHogs. He’s been especially productive in his last 10 games with eight goals and five assists.

Lardis is expected to make his NHL debut against the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday night.

“He’s a guy who’s scored a lot of goals throughout his young career, going back to junior,” Blackhawks coach Jeff Blashill said of Lardis. “He’s had a pretty good start to his American League (career). Obviously, I know for sure Connor isn’t playing tonight, so we just felt like it gives us another potential offensive guy that can come in and provide some scoring punch. You never know how guys are going to come in and play. Ultimately, I don’t want him to tip his toes into the water. I want him to jump right in. So, hopefully, he can come and give us good minutes.”

The Blackhawks have stressed to Lardis, who is 5-foot-11 and 170 pounds, that they want him to play through contact and not be afraid to go into the dangerous areas. It’s something he’s worked on over the last few seasons.

“He’s still young, he’s light, just the willingness to get in high-traffic areas and make plays out of it, and he’s done that, just being consistent,” IceHogs coach Jared Nightingale said earlier in the season. “But what an outstanding kid, who wants to be coached, very, very humble. I think that’s rare, too, in a hockey player.”

Blashill got a chance to see Lardis in training camp and received a more recent scouting report from Nightingale.

“He’s a pretty smart player,” Blashill said. “He has a really good shot. He’s been down there, just talking to Jared Nightingale. He’s done a good job on both sides of the puck. So I think he’s someone who, ultimately, we’re hoping can become an offensive guy at the NHL level. We’re not expecting that to just blossom right away, but can he give us a little offensive punch? That would be great.”

Lardis said earlier in the season he was patient for his NHL opportunity and was just learning to play pro hockey.

“I’ve said it before, pro hockey, it’s a different beast,” Lardis said. “Everyone’s really good defensively and offensively, and that’s something I’ve been taking pride in. You know, watching video, making sure I’m good in the D-zone, and just reliable so I could be out there in situations where I can be trusted. That just helps with the overall game to get to the next level, too. You got to be a good two-way player, and I think I’ve done a good job of that.”

The offensive side of the game comes easily to Lardis.

“I don’t think my confidence ever left,” Lardis said. “I knew that if I was doing the little things, playing good D-zone, the scoring chances will come and the goals will come. So it’s been great.”

What Lardis does especially well is make plays at high speed. It’s why he and Oliver Moore, whom Lardis will be reunited with in Chicago, had success together early in the season with the IceHogs.

“He can make plays quickly, whether it’s a pass or find the back of the net,” Nightingale said. “You know, those guys can execute fast and be tough to play against.”

Lardis also showed some chemistry with Frank Nazar, another speedy player, in training camp.

“I think we think alike on the ice,” Nazar said Saturday. “We try to create the same plays and see a lot of the same things each other sees. I think when you get along with a guy off the ice, it’s easy to get along on the ice and create that chemistry. I thought that was there in training camp and throughout the preseason. He’s a fun player to play with and skilled, so obviously it’s always easy to play with a guy like that.”

Blashill wouldn’t say exactly where Lardis would play, but Blashill wanted to put Lardis in positions to be offensive.

“We’ll see,” Blashill said. “We’re going to put him in a position we think helps him have success. He’ll see time on the power play, for sure. We’re not going to bring him up and play him with guys that don’t match his skill set, so we’re going to bring him up, put him in a position we think matches his skill set. Part of that will be on the power play.”