The American Hockey League announced today that Rockford IceHogs forward Nick Lardis has been named the Upper Deck AHL Rookie of the Month for October — a well-deserved honor after a stellar start to his professional career.
Lardis, a Chicago Blackhawks prospects, posted four goals and eight assists for 12 points with an impressive +11 rating in just eight games during his first month in the AHL. The 20-year-old winger quickly made an impact, earning recognition for his consistency, speed, and scoring touch.
Lardis recorded his first professional point with an assist in a 6–2 win at Iowa on Oct. 12, then followed with his first multi-point game in Chicago on Oct. 18, where he scored his first pro goal and set up the overtime winner in a 3–2 victory. The following night, he exploded for one goal and three assists against the Wolves, earning AHL Player of the Week honors after a dominant seven-point weekend.
He capped off his strong month with a two-goal performance in Rockford’s 6–1 win over Chicago on Oct. 28, finishing October as the league’s top-scoring rookie.
A third-round pick of the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2023 NHL Draft, Lardis is currently one point off the overall AHL scoring lead, sitting at 13 points (5G, 8A) in 10 games.
Before turning pro, the Oakville, Ontario native led the OHL in goals last season with 71 and finished with 117 pointsfor the Brantford Bulldogs, earning First Team All-Star honors. Over four OHL seasons, Lardis tallied 269 points in 234 games, showing the elite offensive skill that has quickly translated to the pro level.
