Chicago Blackhawks recall Nick Lardis after Connor Bedard injury: A desperate move for a desperate offense

The Chicago Blackhawks find themselves in an all-too-familiar position. Less than 24 hours after watching their franchise cornerstone, Connor Bedard, clutch his right shoulder in pain during a last-second faceoff against the St. Louis Blues, the organization made the decisive move to recall high-scoring forward Nick Lardis from the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League. The 20-year-old prospect, who has lit up the AHL with 26 points in 24 games this season, could make his NHL debut as soon as Saturday night against the Detroit Red Wings as the Blackhawks scramble to fill a void that has historically crippled their offense.

The timing couldn’t be more critical. Bedard, who leads the team with 19 goals and 25 assists through just 31 games, represents not just the present but the entire future of this rebuilding franchise. His injury, which occurred with 0.8 seconds remaining in a 3-2 loss to the Blues, has sent shockwaves through an organization that has already endured a miserable stretch without its young superstar. The recall of Lardis signals that general manager Kyle Davidson and the Blackhawks front office are unwilling to repeat the mistakes of the past, when the team limped through a 2-10-1 record while scoring just 17 goals during Bedard’s 14-game absence with a broken jaw in early 2024.

The injury that sparked immediate action

When Brayden Schenn lined up opposite Connor Bedard for that final faceoff on Friday night, nobody could have predicted the sequence of events that would follow. Bedard, known for his competitive fire and unwillingness to concede even in defeat, attempted to win the draw to give Chicago one last desperate scoring chance. Instead, he was knocked down by the Blues center, immediately grasped at his right shoulder, and hustled off the ice accompanied by a trainer.

Coach Jeff Blashill, speaking to reporters less than a day later, provided little clarity on the severity of the injury. “We’ll know more in the next couple days,” Blashill said, carefully choosing his words. “I just don’t want to say stuff that’s not super accurate, so I don’t see any reason to guess.”

What made the situation more concerning was the visual of Bedard wincing in pain as he exited the ice, his upper right arm held at an awkward angle. While the coach absolved Schenn of any wrongdoing—clarifying that Bedard got “injured before any push happens”—the freak nature of the incident offered little comfort to a fanbase that has seen this movie before. The Blackhawks have built their entire organizational strategy around Bedard, and any significant injury would not only derail their current season but potentially threaten his availability for Canada’s roster at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

The front office’s response was swift and decisive. Rather than waiting for a formal diagnosis or attempting to patch the lineup with internal options, the Blackhawks immediately recalled Lardis, signaling their belief that the injury could be substantial enough to warrant reinforcements.

Who is Nick Lardis?

Nick Lardis isn’t just any prospect. The Oakville, Ontario native, selected by Chicago in the third round of the 2023 NHL Draft, has been nothing short of spectacular since joining the professional ranks. This season with Rockford, he has compiled 13 goals and 13 assists in 24 games, ranking sixth in the AHL in scoring and showcasing the kind of offensive punch that turns heads at the NHL level.

His statistical dominance isn’t new. Last season with the Brantford Bulldogs in the Ontario Hockey League, Lardis posted eye-popping numbers that placed him in elite company. He scored 71 goals and 46 assists in 65 games, with his 71 goals tying Eric Lindros for the 11th-most goals scored in a single season in OHL history. He also set a new single-season record for most game-winning goals with 16 and tallied 25 power-play goals, tied for the 11th-most in OHL history.

Rockford coach Jared Nightingale hasn’t been shy about praising his young star’s abilities. “[When] you see his shot, it’s special, no matter what age you are,” Nightingale said in November. “He can score in a variety of ways—[off] the rush and obviously [on] the power play. I think he’s just as good a passer, too. Nick is a special player.”

Lardis earned AHL Player of the Week honors earlier this season with a seven-point performance and recorded his first four-point game on October 19 against the Chicago Wolves. His transition from junior hockey to the professional ranks has exceeded even the heightened expectations that followed his historic OHL campaign.

However, the Blackhawks had planned to be patient with his development. At 5-foot-11 and 170 pounds, Lardis still needs to build up strength and refine his defensive acumen, which is why the organization initially intended to keep him in Rockford for most—if not all—of this season. Bedard’s injury has accelerated that timeline dramatically.

Historical context: Life without Bedard

The Blackhawks know all too well what their offense looks like without Connor Bedard in the lineup. The memory of January and February 2024 remains fresh and painful. During Bedard’s 14-game absence with a broken jaw, Chicago iced what many considered one of the most toothless offenses in modern NHL history.

The numbers were staggering and sobering:

• The Hawks somehow won their first contest without him before going 2-10-1 during the remainder of his absence
• They scored just 17 goals during that span—a pitiful 1.3 goals per game
• The power play operated at historically low levels
• The team looked lost, lacking any player who could create offense independently

That experience taught the front office a valuable lesson: when you have a generational talent like Bedard, you must have contingency plans. The supporting cast is better this season, but not dramatically so. Tyler Bertuzzi (26 points in 28 games) and Andre Burakovsky (21 in 26) are solid complementary pieces, but their skills were sought because they complement Bedard, not because they can take over games themselves.

As currently constructed, the Blackhawks direly lack game-altering stars outside of their franchise center. An engine doesn’t work without its piston, and Bedard is the piston that drives everything Chicago does offensively. The question now becomes whether Nick Lardis can provide even a fraction of what Bedard brings to the table.

Immediate lineup implications and expectations

Coach Jeff Blashill confirmed that Frank Nazar, another young forward who has shown flashes of potential but hasn’t scored a goal since October, will move up to the first-line center role in Bedard’s absence. Nazar, who was coincidentally recalled on the exact same day as Lardis—December 13—will be asked to anchor a top-six forward group that suddenly looks very thin on experience and offensive firepower.

Lardis, meanwhile, will likely slot into a top-nine role, potentially on the wing with Nazar or as part of a secondary scoring line. His ability to contribute on the power play makes him an attractive option, especially considering the Blackhawks’ man-advantage unit has been heavily reliant on Bedard’s creativity and shot generation.

Blashill has been measured in his expectations for the rookie. “He’s someone who, ultimately, we’re hoping can become an offensive guy at the NHL level,” the coach said. “We’re not expecting that to just blossom right away, but can he give us a little offensive punch? That would be great.”

The organization is taking a pragmatic approach. If Lardis proves not quite ready for NHL action, he can always return to Rockford to continue his development. Alternatively, if he can translate his gifted goal-scoring to this level, he might just be the miracle the sans-Bedard Hawks’ offense needs.

What’s clear is that Chicago cannot afford a repeat of the 2023-24 disaster. The team is playing better hockey this season, showing more structure and competitiveness, but the offensive ceiling without Bedard remains alarmingly low. Lardis represents a potential solution—a player with legitimate goal-scoring ability who has already proven he can adapt quickly to higher levels of competition.

The road ahead

The Blackhawks will know more about Bedard’s status in the coming days, with Blashill suggesting Monday could provide additional clarity before the team embarks on a three-game trip to eastern Canada. In the meantime, all eyes will be on Nick Lardis as he attempts to make the jump from AHL standout to NHL contributor.

The organization has been careful to temper expectations. Lardis is not Connor Bedard, and asking him to fill those skates would be unfair and unrealistic. However, in a season where development and growth are the primary objectives, this unexpected opportunity could accelerate his timeline and provide valuable experience.

For Chicago fans, this situation brings a mix of anxiety and excitement. The anxiety comes from seeing their franchise player injured again, potentially facing a significant shoulder issue that could linger. The excitement stems from getting a first look at one of their most promising prospects, a player who has done everything asked of him at the AHL level and now gets his shot on the biggest stage.

The Blackhawks’ offense needs a miracle to survive Connor Bedard’s absence. Whether Nick Lardis can provide that miracle remains to be seen, but his recall signals that the organization is at least trying to be proactive rather than reactive. In a season defined by growth and potential, Lardis now has the chance to prove he belongs—and the Blackhawks have the chance to prove they’ve learned from their past mistakes.