3 Chicago Blackhawks prospects with a strong chance of playing NHL games next season

Nick Lardis

Lardis may be the most talked about Blackhawks' prospect in recent weeks due to the enormous season he is having in the OHL, and he is a player many are eagerly waiting to see in a Blackhawks' uniform.

Lardis is in the nearing the conclusion of his final season of junior eligibility and has posted surreal numbers with 70 goals and 113 points in 61 games for the Brantford Bulldogs.

The speedy and lethal winger's goal totals has put him alongside historic names in hockey's history as the eighth player all-time to score 70 goals in an OHL season.

With production like that, Lardis has at least put himself in conversations to make his NHL debut as soon as possible in order to see how he fends at the next level. At five-feet-eleven inches and one hundred and eighty-five pounds, Lardis' size was always a concern for scouts and whether his scoring would translate to the NHL level.

Lardis brings high-level speed and shooting ability to his game which could fill a hole on the Blackhawks' roster of a pure goal-scorer. He uses his great speed to generate chances off the rush and has a strong powerplay presence as well due to his pin-point accuracy.

The Blackhawk's don't have a finisher quite like Lardis in their system and he is becoming one of the most hyped up prospects in the organization because of that. His play style should give him a strong chance of earning a roster spot next year and he could end up becoming an important member of the future core.