Chicago Blackhawks officially signed Brantford Bulldogs forward Nick Lardis to an NHL Entry-level contract on Wednesday, April 3, 2024.
The Blackhawks selected Lardis in the third round, 67th overall in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.
Originally selected to the Ontario Hockey League in the 2021 Priority Selection Draft by the Peterborough Petes in the first round, sixth overall, Lardis immediately showed his incredible potential potting 18 goals, adding 19 assists for 37 points in 63 as a rookie in the 2021-22 season.
After opening the 2022-23 season in Peterborough with 12 goals and seven assists for 19 points in 36 games, the Oakville product was dealt to the Bulldogs in a trade deadline deal. Finishing the season with 25 goals and 21 assists for 46 points in just 33 games with the Bulldogs, Lardis continued his scoring prowess in the postseason, notching another five goals and five assists for ten points in six games.
After representing Canada and winning bronze at the 2023 U-18 World Hockey Championship, the Blackhawks jumped on Lardis in the NHL Draft. Following his first NHL camp, Lardis reached yet another level in his game, opening the 2023-24 season with an incredible 29 goals and 21 assists for 50 points in just 37 games, putting him on pace to break the franchise single season goal-scoring record before an unfortunate injury cost him the last 31 games of the regular season.
Returning for the playoffs, Lardis has picked right up where he left off, scoring two goals in Game 1 of the Bulldogs opening round series and leading the team with four points through three games at the time of his signing with the Blackhawks
“The entire Brantford Bulldogs organization is tremendously proud of what Nick Lardis has achieved and excited for the path yet to be forged with both the Bulldogs and the Chicago Blackhawks,” said Matt Turek, General Manager of the Brantford Bulldogs.
