Successful acquisition of a star by the Chicago Blackhawks in Nashville
Photo credit: NHL.com
Chicago Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson is getting lots of credit for finding a potential diamond in the rough with prospect Nick Lardis, who was taken in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft in Nashville.
The Chicago Blackhawks picked up the face of their franchise with the 1st overall pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, which was held at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, home of the divisional foe Nashville Predators.
But GM Kyle Davidson is also getting praised for picking up a potential diamond in the rough when he picked forward Nick Lardis with the 67th overall pick.
Lardis tore it up with the Brantford Bulldogs of the OHL last year, with 117 points (71G, 46A) in 65 games. Now he's playing with the AHL affiliate Rockford IceHogs, and already has 8 points (2G, 6A) in 5 games.
He doesn't have any NHL experience yet, but if he continues putting up numbers like he did in the OHL, it likely won't be long before he gets a call-up to the Blackhawks if one of the regular roster players gets hurt or is otherwise unavailable.
Nick Lardis could be a diamond in the rough for the Blackhawks
His scouting report via Elite Prospects highlights his ability to get the puck to the net:
No matter where the puck arrives, Lardis finds ways to slam it into the net. He can do so while sliding backward, rushing ahead, with his feet pointed away from the target, and with instant catch-and-release motions. The winger understands how to set up his shots, where to move, how to move, and at what speed to get his stick on a pass and fire it in. He anticipates the flow of the play, keeps the puck in control of his team with short passes, and then pops open.
Lardis has shown he has offensive capabilities playing at lower levels, and he could prove to be a great draft pick if he's able to eventually do so at the NHL with the Blackhawks.
TRENDING NOW
