Nick Lardis got here into skilled hockey this yr with pedigree. Having scored 71 targets for the Brantford Bulldogs within the OHL final season, the expectations raised fairly a bit for what his professional outlook would finally be.
Within the lengthy historical past of the OHL, solely 13 gamers have topped 70 targets and solely two of these gamers – Lardis and John Tavares – have been within the final 35 years.
Everybody knew Lardis may rating. What they didn’t know is that if his offensive recreation would translate to his first yr {of professional} hockey. The transition to the AHL from junior generally is a difficult one for even the most effective gamers.
Apparently not for Lardis. The Rockford IceHogs ahead was named the Higher Deck AHL Rookie of the Month of October. The 20-year-old ahead posted 4 targets and eight assists for 12 factors in simply eight video games through the first month of the season.
The third-round decide in 2023 is now as much as 13 factors in 10 video games this season after including one other objective on Nov. 1. He’s at the moment fourth amongst all gamers within the AHL and only one level off the league lead. In the meantime, Lardis has poured 25 photographs on internet and has scored on 20% of these photographs. One must suppose extra photographs generated are going to result in much more targets.
2025 Rockford IceHogs vs Milwaukee Admirals
The IceHogs are second within the robust Central Division and have had some spectacular video games to start out their season. Whereas Lardis was not the primary ahead referred to as up this yr – first-round decide Oliver Moore was – his time within the AHL is proving precious already.
I’ve to confess, I used to be stunned to see Lardis transition so simply into the AHL. His scoring was phenomenal in junior, however there have been quite a few targets scored final season that I didn’t really feel would translate to professionals.
What Lardis has achieved thus far this season is present how his evolving offensive sense continues to refine in such a approach that he’s exploiting what defenses are giving him. That’s usually a lot simpler in junior hockey with much less skilled gamers. It’s a lot, a lot tougher to do inside the construction of the AHL with veteran gamers, lots of whom have had stints within the NHL.
Lardis finds area remarkably effectively and places himself into scoring positions. When he does get the puck, he’s decisive with it. He scores targets emphatically, with good arduous photographs, or crashing down and discovering unfastened pucks. Lardis has high-level anticipation and is studying performs effectively.
It’s arduous to be a deadly offensive participant within the AHL at age 20. Lardis is exhibiting very early indicators that he’s going to be simply that. Ought to this proceed, he’s going to seek out his approach into the Chicago Blackhawks lineup a lot prior to I believe even they might have anticipated.
Till that decision comes, Rockford has a must-see participant on their roster.
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