Blackhawks OHL prospect update, 4/23: End-of-season reports on Lardis, Vanacker and more

The OHL postseason continues and only one of the Blackhawks prospects is still skating in it. Which one is that? Scroll down to find out!

Forwards

Nick Lardis, Brantford Bulldogs

Stats: 117 points (71 G, 46 A), 16 PIM, 375 SOG in 65 regular-season games; 15 points (11 G, 4 A), 0 PIM, 48 SOG in 7 playoff games

We\'ll start with the good, because there is some bad news to share at the end.

Lardis was the most prolific scorer in the CHL this season, leading the way with 71 goals. He also had CHL bests with 25 of them coming on the power play and 16 of them being game-winning goals. His 117 points were also good for fourth across the CHL. His 71 goals were the most by an OHL player since John Tavares scored 72 as an age-16 player during the 2006-07 season. He also tied the production from Eric Lindros\' age-17 season back in 1990-91. This was Lardis\' age-19 season (he\'ll turn 20 in July), and those few years of difference explain why Lardis was a third-round pick a few years ago despite his incredible production this season.

Questions will continue to exist regarding his ability to translate that scoring prowess to the professional ranks until Lardis proves them wrong. But he certainly did himself plenty of favors with all of the lamps lit over the last six months.

Right place, right time!🚨 #BFD | #Blackhawks | #OHL https://t.co/qXz9ab8ABZ pic.twitter.com/r5sDB2GorC

— Brantford Bulldogs (@BulldogsOHL) March 14, 2025

LARDIS STRIKES FOR THE BULLDOGS🐶🚨 @NHLBlackhawks prospect Nick Lardis rips one home to put @BulldogsOHL back within one to start the second period!🟡⚫️ #OHLPlayoffs | @CHLHockey | #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/tKoqV0pRnE

— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) April 4, 2025

NICK LARDIS ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! @NHLBlackhawks prospect Nick Lardis goes BETWEEN THE LEGS to score his second goal of the game for the @BulldogsOHL and put them up 2-0! #OHLPlayoffs | @CHLHockey pic.twitter.com/5wT6jgJgvT

— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) April 6, 2025

There\'s a variety to Lardis\' goal-scoring that\'s encouraging, too. There are one-timers. There are quick wrist shots. There are goals scored from behind the net, like this one:

Brantford doubles their lead 🚨 @NHLBlackhawks prospect Nick Lardis scores a nifty goal as he banks it off of Mike McIvor and in for his second of the #OHLPlayoffs and makes it 2-0 for the @BulldogsOHL ! #OHL | @CHLHockey | #NBvsBFD pic.twitter.com/XHzgcEKonL

— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) March 31, 2025

Lardis was also excellent in the postseason, with two hat tricks among a three-game, nine-point stretch that helped Brantford eliminate the North Bay Battalion and take a 2-0 series lead on the Oshawa Generals.

Brantford extends the lead 🚨 @NHLBlackhawks prospect Nick Lardis gets his second goal of the game on a gorgeous play as he pump fakes on the one time chance and fires a laser for his 10th of the #OHLPlayoffs to make it 4-2 for the @BulldogsOHL ! #OHL | @CHLHockey pic.twitter.com/WmaNceY95e

— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) April 13, 2025

TOSS 'EM IF YOU GOT 'EM 🚨🎩

Another game, another hat trick for @NHLBlackhawks prospect Nick Lardis! He scores his 11th of the #OHLPlayoffs to restore the @BulldogsOHL two goal lead in the game #OHL | @CHLHockey pic.twitter.com/LsNnvztPPe

— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) April 13, 2025

Now for the bad news: Lardis was injured late in Game 2 and didn\'t play again, with the Bulldogs then losing four in a row to end their OHL season. Here was the hit in question that effectively ended Lardis\' season:

For those that didn’t see it. This is the knee injury from Nick Lardis. Hope it’s not serious. When more info comes out. I will be sure to pass it along. #Blackhawks @BHawkCowboy with the video here.

pic.twitter.com/j1LQYkrsw5

— The Prospect Don (@TheProspectDon) April 14, 2025

Oshawa\'s Andrew Gibson was suspended two games for the hit. There\'s been no update on Lardis since this comment from Hawks GM Kyle Davidson last week:

Davidson said Nick Lardis will see another doctor in the next few days about his knee injury, which doesn’t sound great.

— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) April 17, 2025

It\'s a disappointing end to an otherwise excellent season for Lardis, who soared up prospect rankings with the gaudy numbers he compiled for Brantford. The professional ranks are next for Lardis, although we\'ll have to see if that means a spot in Chicago or some additional seasoning in Rockford. Of course, his availability for next season could be affected by whatever injury he sustained. Should any Lardis updates be released, we\'ll share them.

Martin Misiak, Erie Otters

Stats: 59 points (23 G, 36 A), 14 PIM, 161 SOG in 60 regular-season games; 13 points (7 G, 6 A), 4 PIM, 37 SOG in 8 playoff games

Misiak hovered around a point-per-game pace all season long but then found another gear for Erie\'s brief postseason stay, which ended with an elimination at the hands of the London Knights last week. Misiak was fourth on the Otters in points for both the regular season and the postseason, although he was the team\'s leader in power-play goals (4) for the playoffs.

His postseason success was marked by a pair of four-point nights (3 G, 1 A each time) in the same series against Saginaw, which helped the Otters eliminate potential future Blackhawks prospect Michael Misa and the Spirit in five games.

🌟 #OHLPerformer of the Night 🌟

A hat-trick from #Blackhawks prospect Martin Misiak helped the @ErieOtters defeat Saginaw and advance to the second round of the #OHLPlayoffs ! 🎩 @bastardburrito pic.twitter.com/SMenrlVinp

— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) April 6, 2025

A few other samples of Misiak goals from the season:

The lead changes hands once again 🚨🦦 @NHLBlackhawks prospect Martin Misiak curls and snipes on the power play for his 21st of the season as he puts the @ErieOtters in to the lead once again in this game! #OHL | @CHLHockey pic.twitter.com/Su6Muz6HKF

— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) March 13, 2025

MISIAK GETS THINGS STARTED🤩👏 @NHLBlackhawks Prospect Martin Misiak one-times one into the back of the net early in the first period to give @ErieOtters the lead!🚨🦦 #OHL | @CHLHockey | #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/MGQfiONDZg

— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) March 20, 2025

Like Lardis above, though, Misiak missed his team\'s postseason finale with an undisclosed injury and there\'s been no word since on the possible severity of it. Should updates arise, they\'ll be passed along here.

Misiak\'s postseason performance provided an emphatic ending to an otherwise decent hockey season for the 6-foot-2, 200-pound forward who\'ll turn 21 in September. Professional hockey is next for him, and it seems like a trip to Rockford will be the first step unless there\'s a particularly special showing from Misiak during training camp.

Alex Pharand, Sudbury Wolves

Stats: 59 points (17 G, 42 A), 44 PIM, 154 SOG in 65 regular-season games; 1 point (1 A), 0 PIM, 7 SOG in 4 playoff games

Sudbury was eliminated from the postseason by Kingston in the first round, so Pharand and the rest of the Wolves had a brief playoff stint. Still, this season was a significant step forward for Pharand, who nearly doubled the 30-point regular season he had back in 2023-24 with 59 this season.

Here\'s a one-timer snipe for a PPG from Pharand earlier in the season:

pic.twitter.com/aGY1l9V1yl

— Sudbury Wolves (@Sudbury_Wolves) March 1, 2025

File this one under the category of \"going to the next and good things happen\":

Just a ridiculous assist from Kieron Walton 🤩 pic.twitter.com/9buUzkPEjX

— Sudbury Wolves (@Sudbury_Wolves) February 1, 2025

Pharand skated on Sudbury\'s top line in the postseason:

Professional hockey is next for Pharand, who turned 20 in January. He doesn\'t have a contract yet, although that could be coming in the next few months.

Jack Pridham, Kitchener Rangers

Stats: 54 points (27 G, 27 A), 38 PIM, 189 SOG in 48 regular-season games; 10 points (6 G, 4 A), 12 PIM, 45 SOG in 12 playoff games

The Kitchener Rangers just completed an impressive postseason rally, coming back from a 3-0 deficit to beat the Windsor Spitfires in the second round of the OHL Playoffs. They\'re now heading to the Western Conference final against the London Knights.

Pridham has been heavily involved in Kitchener\'s offense all season long, finishing the regular season third on the team in points while leading the squad with 10 PPG. His postseason production has come in bunches: a four-point night (2 G, 2 A) in the first round against Flint and a pair of two-point games in the series against Windsor.

Here are a few of Pridham\'s postseason tallies, including a goal on a penalty shot:

The @OHLRangers lead by a pair after 40 minutes 👀

Jack Pridham makes no mistake on the penalty shot attempt as the @NHLBlackhawks prospect extends Kitchener's lead in Game 6 📽️ #OHLPlayoffs | #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/erhAX85w0P

— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) April 21, 2025

Have a night, Mr. Jack Pridham! 🔥

The @OHLRangers fans are up on their feet at the Aud, as the @NHLBlackhawks prospect double-dips and finds the back of the net once again 📽️ #OHLPlayoffs | #Blackhawks https://t.co/TXgeSskiDm pic.twitter.com/GSEjpeiHl7

— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) April 21, 2025

And here\'s a goal where Pridham\'s impressive speed was on full display:

JACK CAN RIP IT #RTown | #BattleBound | #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/ivRnZAetoo

— Kitchener Rangers (@OHLRangers) April 4, 2025

As recently as Game 7, Pridham was skating on the Rangers\' top line:

Round 2: Game 7 Starting Line-Up ⬇️ #RTown | #BattleBound pic.twitter.com/ssjzZA9ZeE

— Kitchener Rangers (@OHLRangers) April 22, 2025

Plenty to like from Pridham thus far and he\'ll spend the next hockey season playing at Boston University. So far, there\'s been enough from Pridham to make him worth keeping an eye on as a possible future member of the long-term puzzle here.

AJ Spellacy, Windsor Spitfires

Stats: 37 points (18 G, 19 A), 76 PIM, 159 SOG in 62 regular-season games; 3 points (1 G, 2 A), 4 PIM, 9 SOG in 5 playoff games

Spellacy\'s postseason was interrupted by an injury, which limited him to just five playoff appearances for the Spitfires. But he still had modest production in those limited outings, continuing the decent regular season Spellacy posted. For Windsor\'s postseason finale, Spellacy was listed as the team\'s second-line center:

Tonight’s Spitfires Lineup for Game 7: #WindsorSpitfires #WhateverItTakes | @GoodLifeFitness pic.twitter.com/foiSyXiHqf

— X - Windsor Spitfires (@SpitsHockey) April 22, 2025

Spellacy\'s time in the OHL this season may be done, but he now could be affecting the AHL playoffs after being assigned to the IceHogs on Wednesday morning. No guarantees he\'ll be in the lineup, though.

NEWS 📰: A.J. Spellacy Assigned to IceHogs https://t.co/q7vsbxtIKk

— x - Rockford IceHogs (@goicehogs) April 23, 2025

This goal from February displays all of Spellacy\'s obvious physical tools, a tally that was an overtime game-winner while shorthanded:

AJ Spellacy with a #BestOfOHL game-winner 🤯

The @NHLBlackhawks prospect stepped up for the @SpitsHockey , wiring the go-ahead goal while shorthanded to complete the comeback London on #OHLDay 📽️ #OHLxMilkUP | @OntarioDairy | #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/F9a8rl9rin

— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) February 3, 2025

Those traits are why Spellacy remains such an intriguing prospect, because he has the physical ability to do plenty of things that future NHLers do. But his relative hockey inexperience -- remember that he was a two-way athlete who also played football until just a few years ago -- means he\'s still working on the more cerebral aspects of the game. If he puts that all together, though? Could certainly see an NHL career in Spellacy\'s future.

Marek Vanacker, Brantford Bulldogs

Stats: 42 points (24 G, 18 A), 36 PIM, 118 SOG in 45 regular-season games; 11 points (6 G, 5 A), 8 PIM, 31 SOG in 11 playoff games

It was a late arrival to the season for Vanacker, but he still managed to play at a near point-per-game pace during the regular season and was right at that pace during Brantford\'s postseason run. A few of those goals are in the clips below:

Pretty passing➡️🥅 #BFD7 | #Blackhawks | #OHLPlayoffs https://t.co/FNEBaHzP5y pic.twitter.com/g8nfHPPr4v

— Brantford Bulldogs (@BulldogsOHL) April 20, 2025

Brantford strikes on the power play 🚨 @NHLBlackhawks prospect Marek Vanacker finds his fifth goal of the #OHLPlayoffs to score the first goal in the game for the @BulldogsOHL ! #OHL | @CHLHockey pic.twitter.com/RJoutzyQR4

— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) April 17, 2025

Like the goal above, Vanacker showed he wasn\'t scared to score from the tougher areas of the ice this season.

The Bulldogs double their first period lead 🚨🚨 @NHLBlackhawks prospect Marek Vanacker fights hard in front of the net and pushes the puck over the goal line for his 24th of the year to put the @BulldogsOHL up 2-0 in the #FridayNightFaceoff ! #OHL | @CHLHockey pic.twitter.com/ajGoY15Flm

— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) March 21, 2025

MAREK VANACKER IS THE OVERTIME HERO🦸🤩 @NHLBlackhawks prospect Marek Vanacker gets a beauty feed from @Capitals prospect Patrick Thomas, and he makes no mistake burying it to secure victory AND a $2,000 donation in the #OHLAssists Overtime Heroes program! 👏 #OHLPlayoffs |… pic.twitter.com/MKFtkXopgs

— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) April 2, 2025

He bounced back-and-forth between left and right wing for much of the season, sometimes skating on Brantford\'s second line and sometimes joining Lardis on the top line.

How the Bulldogs lineup tonight for game 6.

Brown -Thomas- Crombie Vanacker-O’Brien- Rossetto Avery-Nelson- Testa O’Donnell- O’Keefe- Chen

Budnick - Hamara Protz - Jiricek Moore- Diplacido Ryerson Leenders starts in goal. #OHLPlayoffs #BFDvsOSH #BulldogsAudioNetwork #BFD7

— Colin Ward (@Colinward_O) April 20, 2025

Overall, it\'s probably been closer to a \"good\" season for Vanacker than a \"great\" one, certainly affected by the injury that delayed his start to the season. For a player who turned 19 earlier this month, though, it\'s good enough progress from a 2024 first-round pick (No. 27 overall) that the team will continue watching his development in the short term to see how he fits into the team\'s plans for the long term. For now, that means an eye towards Rockford after Vanacker was assigned to the IceHogs earlier this week. No news yet on whether or not he\'ll be included in the lineup when Rockford opens the postseason on Wednesday night in Rosemont against the Wolves.

Defensemen

Ty Henry, Erie Otters

Stats: 17 points (1 G, 16 A), 78 PIM, 97 SOG in 63 regular-season games; 2 points (1 G, 1 A), 16 PIM, 5 SOG in 9 playoff games

Henry had a quieter back half of the regular season, with just five points (all assists) since our last update in early January and no points in the final 21 games.

Henry\'s postseason goal didn\'t come with any style points:

The Otters take the lead 🚨

Ty Henry scores his first career #OHLPlayoffs goal to give the @ErieOtters the lead in the game as they go up 2-1! #OHL | @CHLHockey pic.twitter.com/S1iUHp1yIQ

— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) April 18, 2025

Nothing major to write home about for the 2024 sixth-round pick (No. 163 overall), who\'s still just 18 years old and will almost certainly be back with the Otters for the 2025-26 hockey season.

Talking Points