The Chicago Blackhawks have signed another prospect to an entry-level contract

The Chicago Blackhawks officially have another talented prospect signed to an entry-level contract. They signed Landon Slaggert to his entry-level deal in early March.

Now add Nick Lardis.

The 18-year-old forward signed the standard three-year ELC with a cap hit of $896,667.

Lardis played 37 games for the OHL's Brantford Bulldogs this season. He was tearing up the OHL with 29 goals and 21 assists before a wrist injury sidelined him for two months. Lardis is not expected to be on the NHL roster next season and will play another year in the juniors.

However, the Hawks could give him a nine-game taste of the NHL to start the season much like they did with Kevin Korchinski. It would be up to Lardis to impress the Hawks' brass to stay for the rest of the season much like Korchinski did this season.

The five-foot, 11-inch forward was a third-round pick in last year's draft. He did skate with the club in training camp and played well alongside Connor Bedard.

Lardis is considered the Blackhawks' ninth-best prospect according to the Athletic's Scott Wheeler (a subscription is required to access the link). Chicago Sun-Times Blackhawks beat reporter, Ben Pope has Lardis as the team's 13th best prospect. Pope points out that Lardis has a great shot, but he still needs to add weight to survive in the NHL.

CHGO's Chicago Blackhawks podcast host and beat reporter, Mario Tirabassi put Lardis as a level-four prospect before the season started. That is a player who projects to be an average player. He did acknowledge at the time that any prospect could move up a tier in his prospect pyramid. Hopefully, his impressive year in Brantford will move him up.

The Hawks clearly need scoring down the road and hopefully, Lardis can provide that once he gets to the NHL.