Inside Wheeler’s Shocking Summer 2025 NHL Prospect Rankings: Who’s the True Future Star?
Lardis is a standout skater and natural athlete (which is evident on the ice with his natural speed but also showed up when he led on-ice testing at the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game in his draft year). He’s fast in straight lines and smooth weaving up ice through his carries. But he’s also got a dangerous curl-and-drag wrister, a one-timer that he trusts and regularly scores on (his one-timer from the flank and even closer to the goal line is a feared weapon in junior), good touch on the puck and on the power play, an innate ability to be opportunistic around the net and, because of his speed, a knack for winning races and getting to loose pucks. He’s on the smaller side for a winger (though he’s a very playable and fit 5-foot-11 who has worked hard to fill out his lean frame), and he’s not as engaged physically in battles as you’d hope a player with his speed would be, but his summer birthday gives him the benefit of a little more time to continue to add more strength to his natural athleticism. With the Bulldogs over the last couple of years, his speed and skill took over games offensively. He’s making more and more soft area plays into space as a passer while remaining net-focused on offense. His hands are moving in unison with his feet, edging and shading pucks with ease against junior-level players. He flashes slick one-on-one handling. He’s an excellent saucer passer, which makes him an even better flank guy on the power play because he can go back against the grain with a pass when the one-timer isn’t there.
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