FOUR DOGS HIT MIDSEASON NHL DRAFT RANKINGS
As NHL Central Scouting released their mid-season rankings for the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, the Hamilton Bulldogs saw four players named to the North American skaters list. Newly acquired Nick Lardis leads the way ranked at #96, followed closely by both Florian Xhekaj, at #103, and Cole Brown, at #105, with Lucas Moore joining the contingent at #207.
Acquired in the blockbuster trade from Peterborough Petes on January 7th, Nick Lardis was originally selected in the 1st round, 6th overall, of the 2021 OHL Priority Selection Draft from his hometown Oakville Rangers U16 AAA. In his 2019-20 season at the U15 AAA level for the Rangers organization, Lardis scored a stunning 40 goals & 34 assists for 74 points in 37 games, firmly planting himself amongst the top 2005-born players to watch. During his rookie season with the Peterborough Petes in 2021-22, Lardis immediately showed the incredible potential in posting 18 goals & 19 assists for 37 points through 63 games. After starting the 2022-23 season with 12 goals & 7 assists for 19 points in 36 games with the Petes, Lardis has taken his game to another level since arriving with the Bulldogs. Teaming up with fellow Petes acquiree Sahil Panwar & Patrick Thomas, Lardis has posted 5 goals & 3 assists for 8 points in 5 games in Hamilton. With a style highlighted by his lightning speed, touch around the net and full 200-foot game the left-shooting right-winger is the type of player every team would want to have in their system and will have a chance to further increase his stock as part of the 2023 Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospect Game on January 25th in Langley, B.C. where he’ll suit up for Team Red. Expected to lead the way for the Bulldogs at the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, expect Lardis’ stock to rise from #96 down the stretch this season.
.@NickLardis91 stays hot ????️
Fresh off a three-point performance against the 67's, the @BulldogsOHL forward stuffs in his 16th of the season ???? pic.twitter.com/PlVxhmvuyR
— OntarioHockeyLeague (@OHLHockey) January 15, 2023
Florian Xhekaj has followed the path blazed by older brother Arber to this point in his hockey career, passed over in the OHL Draft after playing for both the Hamilton Huskies U15 AAA & Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs U16 AAA, like his older brother Arber, Florian went to the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League (GOJHL) where he led the Pelham Panthers in the 2021-22 season. Posting 17 goals & 23 assists for 40 points in 48 games, Xhekaj was 13-points clear of his closest teammate on the season which led to his signing with the Bulldogs on July 15th. Bringing a physical style with the ability to play all 3 forward positions and play in all situations, Xhekaj continues to grow his game to the challenges of the OHL. Coming in at the 103rd spot at mid-season, Xhekaj has a path to hearing his named called at the 2023 NHL Entry Draft if he can build on the 7 goals & 7 assists, he’s recorded through 39 games while continuing to grow his all-around game in his first OHL season.
#43 Florian Xhekaj 3rd of the season, opens the scoring for the @BulldogsOHL A lot of time to come back currently trailing London 3-1. Catch all the action on @Cable14 and https://t.co/Cimu6LcuUu. #DawgMentality pic.twitter.com/uLGh7hdDjk
— Cable 14 Hamilton (@cable14) October 16, 2022
Following closely at the 105th spot on the mid-season rankings, Cole Brown, like Nick Lardis, put up an astounding 2019-20 season for the York Simcoe Express U15 AAA posting 44 goals & 32 assists for 76 points in 42 games, capturing attention for his ability to find the back of the net while bringing a 6’3” 170lbs frame. After being selected in the 3rd round, 43rd overall, in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection Draft, Brown arrived with the Bulldogs and had a strong 2021-22 rookie season recording 9 goals & 12 assists for 21 points in 49 games while essentially apprenticing for a team that would go on to win the 2022 OHL Championship, with Brown suiting up in a pair of playoff games and a pair at the Memorial Cup gaining invaluable experience. In his sophomore season, Brown has nearly surpassed his rookie totals at the mid-season point with 6 goals & 10 assists for 16 points through 31 games. Following the OHL Trade Deadline, Brown finds himself with great opportunity to go from secondary to primary scorer moving forward as he’s moved up along Lawson Sherk as a staple of the Bulldogs 2nd line while also playing on the Bulldogs top power-play unit, along with Nick Lardis. With his rare combination of size and skill, Brown is on the path to the next step and being welcomed into an NHL organization at the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.
We'll take that lead ???? pic.twitter.com/Zone0s6YPz
— Hamilton Bulldogs (@BulldogsOHL) December 17, 2022
Perhaps one of the most underrated players on the mid-season rankings, Lucas Moore checked in at #207 but is in the midst of a tremendous season which has already seen the talented defender double his offensive output from his rookie season. Originally selected in the 4th round, 66th overall, in 2021 OHL Priority Selection Draft, Moore had already impressed for his skill, character and maturity having starred for the Peterborough Petes U15 AAA in the 2019-20 season with 9 goals & 15 assists for 24 points in 35 games during the season adding another 10 points in 11 playoff games, Moore stepped up an age group to play with the U16 AAA Petes for 8 regular season games and a playoff game showing his ability to adjust to bigger, faster, stronger opposition quickly. Playing behind a deep, veteran defense corps in the 2021-22 season in his rookie season with the Bulldogs, Moore got into 34 regular season games recording 3 goals and 7 assists for 10 points but was even more impressive with his work ethic and ability to step in and contribute anytime his number was called. After learning from the likes of Nathan Staios, Arber Xhekaj & Colton Kammerer on a Championship team, Moore entered the 2022-23 season ready to step up and has done so in brilliant fashion. Through 39 games on the season Moore has posted 2 goals & 20 assists for 22 points, sitting just behind Jorian Donovan in Bulldogs defensive scoring while still bringing his same heart on his sleeve, hard working style that has made him a favourite and a young leader amongst his teammates. With a second half akin to his first, Moore has the chance to rocket up the rankings and earn his name being called on stage at the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.
Moore with his third of the season in front of his home crowd! pic.twitter.com/q1QNoARRVW
— Hamilton Bulldogs (@BulldogsOHL) March 30, 2022
Hamiltonbulldogs.com Honorable Mention
Patrick Thomas, in his 2nd trip to the NHL Draft, Thomas will enter the 2023 version with even more accolades than the first. Originally drafted in the 3rd round, 56th overall in the 2020 OHL Priority Selection Draft from the Hamilton Huskies U16 AAA, Thomas tortured his opposition, recording 149 points, on 65 goals & 84 assists, in 107 games in his draft year across all competitions as he led the hometown Huskies as co-captain. Entering the OHL in the 2021-22 season, Thomas was a late addition to the final roster but once all the pieces were in place, it was easy to see why he made the club. With Mason McTavish & Ryan Winterton asking to play with the rookie, Thomas posted 6 goals & 21 assists for 27 points in 64 games followed by another 8 assists through 19 playoff games in helping the Bulldogs to the 2022 OHL Championship. Impressing coaches and teammates with his intelligence, skill and work ethic Thomas has continued to improve day in, day out to now lead the 2022-23 Hamilton Bulldogs in scoring just past the halfway point of the season. With 12 goals & 19 assists for 31 points through 39 games, Thomas will be relied upon down the stretch on the top line with Nick Lardis and Sahil Panwar to lead the Bulldogs offense. Though not ranked at mid-season, playing through a 10-game stretch which has seen the heady forward record 13 points (9 of which coming in his last 5 games alongside Panwar & Lardis), Thomas will certainly leap on to the radar by the season’s final rankings should he continue to raise his game and lead the Black & Gold.
The pass & the finish ???????????????? pic.twitter.com/dthaO2vZIH
— Hamilton Bulldogs (@BulldogsOHL) November 27, 2022
