Blackhawks Prospects: Hayes, Lardis Tied for 4th in OHL Goals

Originally posted on Chicago Hockey Now | By Nate Brown | Last updated 12/3/23

One of Blackhawks prospects Gavin Hayes personal goals was to put at least 40 pucks in the back of the net this season. Heck, if he could get 41 again wouldn’t that be something?

How about being on pace for 50?

Hayes has exploded into the top five of the Ontario Hockey League’s goal scorers, tied for fourth with 18 this season. In his last 15 games, Hayes has 14 goals, just one short of playing at a goal-per-game pace.

Add in another 15 assists and Hayes sits with 33 points in 24 games. He’s on pace for 91 points, which would be nine points higher than last year’s total.

CHN had Hayes ranked as the Blackhawks seventh best prospect–and that was with Connor Bedard, Kevin Korchinski, and Lukas Reichel, who have all since graduated.

He’s easily now top three in the system–and if this keeps up, arguably the top prospect. Hayes simply scores goals–and it doesn’t matter if it’s teeing up a one-timer, cleaning up a rebound, or getting a greasy goal net front. He’s going to find a way–and it’s why he reminds of a guy you may remember named Patrick Sharp.

SECOND ALL-TIME!

Congrats, Gavin, on moving past Amadeus Lombardi on the Firebirds all-time scoring list! pic.twitter.com/hfPlHeXErd

— Flint Firebirds (@FlintFirebirds) December 2, 2023

Oh, and Hayes is second all time with the Firebirds in points. If he stays his current pace, he’ll be the all-time record holder for Flint.

And to think 65 other teams passed on him. But wait, there’s more.

Nick Lardis is Tied with Gavin Hayes in OHL Goals

As if it can’t get any better, 2023 third-round pick Nick Lardis is one of two players tied with Hayes for fourth in goals. Lardis, too, is on pace for 50 goals and is over a point-per-game right now. He’s nearly half way to his total of 37 last season.

So what’s the best part of this? It’s two left wings which should make any Blackhawks fan salivate knowing they could potentially be lining up beside Bedard at some point. Or Frank Nazar? How about Oliver Moore?

Maybe even Ryan Greene and Landon Slaggert.

Of course, it all has to work out that they make it to Chicago. But it’s definitely something that is of major interest as the Blackhawks scoring is heavily dependent right now on Bedard. The hope of the rebuild is not only that quality players will once again want to sign with the Blackhawks, but that the young prospects scoring at high clips will find their way to the big club.

50 goals in the “O” is a hell of a goal to have.

Imagine if they keep this pace up.

This article first appeared on Chicago Hockey Now and was syndicated with permission.

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