Nick Lardis proves in AHL that his OHL scoring touch translates – FloHockey

Nick Lardis entered professional hockey this year with pedigree. After scoring 71 goals for the Brantford Bulldogs in the OHL last season, expectations were quite high as to what his professional prospects would ultimately be.

In the long history of the OHL, only thirteen players have scored 70 goals, and only two of those players – Lardis and John Tavares – have done so in the last 35 years.

Everyone knew Lardis could score. What they didn’t know is whether his offensive game would translate into his first year of professional hockey. The transition to the AHL from juniors can be a challenge for even the best players.

Apparently not for Lardis. The Rockford IceHogs forward was named Upper Deck AHL Rookie of the Month for October. The 20-year-old forward scored four goals and eight assists for 12 points in just eight games during the first month of the season.

The 2023 third-round pick now stands at 13 points in 10 games this season, after adding another goal on Nov. 1. He is currently fourth among all players in the AHL and just one point shy of the league lead. Meanwhile, Lardis has put 25 shots on net and scored on 20% of those shots. You should think that more shots generated will lead to even more goals.

The IceHogs are second in the tough Central Division and have had some impressive games to start their season. While Lardis wasn’t the first forward drafted this year – Oliver Moore in the first round – his time in the AHL is already proving valuable.

I have to admit, I was surprised to see Lardis transition to the AHL so easily. His goals were phenomenal in the juniors, but there were a number of goals scored last season that I didn’t think would translate into the pros.

What Lardis has done so far this season is show how his evolving attacking sense continues to refine itself to exploit what the defense offers him. In junior hockey this is often much easier with less experienced players. It’s much, much harder to do within the structure of the AHL with veteran players, many of whom have had a stint in the NHL.

Lardis finds space remarkably well and puts himself in scoring positions. When he gets the puck, he is decisive. He scores goals emphatically, with good hard shots, or with crashing and finding loose pucks. Lardis has high anticipation and can read plays well.

It’s tough to be a lethal offensive player in the AHL at 20 years old. Lardis is showing very early signs that he will be just that. If this continues, he will find his way into the Chicago Blackhawks lineup much sooner than I think even they could have anticipated.

Until that call comes, Rockford has a can’t-miss player.

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