Chicago Blackhawks sign forward prospect Nick Lardis to entry-level contract

The Chicago Blackhawks have signed forward prospect Nick Lardis to a three-year, entry-level contract, the club announced Wednesday afternoon.

Lardis, 18, collected 29 goals and 50 points in 37 games with the Ontario Hockey League’s Brantford Bulldogs in the 2023-24 regular season. He’s added two goals and four points through three games with Brantford in the 2024 OHL playoffs.

The Blackhawks originally selected Lardis in the third round (No. 67 overall) of the 2023 NHL Draft. The Oakville, Ontario product stands 5’11” tall and weighs in at 171 pounds.

Lardis is the second member of Chicago’s 2023 draft class to sign an entry-level contract with the club, joining first-overall pick Connor Bedard. The Blackhawks selected 11 players in the 2023 NHL Draft, including seven in the first three rounds.

The Peterborough Petes originally selected Lardis with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection. Lardis debuted with the Petes in the 2021-22 season but struggled to reach his full potential with the club before being traded to the Bulldogs midway through 2022-23.

In 33 games with the Bulldogs immediately after the trade, Lardis collected 25 goals and 46 points. His draft stock skyrocketed accordingly in the second half of the 2022-23 season and he ended up being considered a consensus second or third-round prospect. He also skated for Team Canada at the 2023 IIHF World U18 Championship, scoring four goals in seven games.

Since being drafted by the Blackhawks, Lardis has taken another step forward in his progression. He finished the 2023-24 regular season with the third-most goals of any Bulldogs player despite only appearing in 37 games, and he also scored at a team-leading 1.35 points-per-game pace.

Having been born in July 2005, Lardis is eligible to remain in the OHL for two more seasons. His entry-level contract is slide-eligible but carries an $896,667 cap hit for if he plays any games in the NHL during its duration.

The Blackhawks currently sit in eighth place in the Central Division and 31st in the NHL with a 22-48-5 record and 49 points through 75 games in the 2023-24 season.