Blackhawks Prospects in the OHL: Gavin Hayes Heating Up

A slow start for both the Flint Firebirds and Chicago Blackhawks prospect Gavin Hayes is ancient history. After losing their first four games, three of them seeing 19 goals allowed, the Firebirds are 5-2-1 since then and Hayes is back to a point-per-game pace. Hayes bagged his fifth and sixth goals of the season in a 5-3 win Sunday.

The Birds take Game Two of the I-75 Divide Cup 💪

A pair of goals from @NHLBlackhawks prospect Gavin Hayes helped deliver a 5-3 @FlintFirebirds victory against Saginaw 📽️ pic.twitter.com/A6h0GzmT8N

— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) October 29, 2023

With those two goals, Hayes has six in his last eight and is currently on an eight game point streak (6-4). Comparing to last season at this point, Hayes was in the same spot with ten points, but split at five goals and assists. The Firebirds were 5-5 in their first ten games, and would be 7-5 after 12 games.

Hayes would also go out a heater of sorts, charting ten points (5-5) in his next four games. We’ll see now what pace he keeps up with, as the Firebirds look better lately.

Gavin Hayes is back to that pace from last year—now it’s time to see where it goes from here.

Tracking Other OHL Blackhawks Prospects

It’s been a strong start for other Blackhawks prospects in the Ontario Hockey League, especially Nick Lardis. The 2023 third-round pick notched his eighth goal of the season on Saturday. After scoring four goals in his first three games, Lardis went scoreless for three games.

He’s back on track, scoring four more in his last four and recording nine points in his first 11 games of the season. Lardis continues to score at an impressive clip and is another intriguing option for the Blackhawks prospect pool since he’s a wing with so many centers already in it.

Paul Ludwinski (Kingston) is playing at a point-per-game pace with 10 points (4-6)  in as many games. Martin Misiak (Erie) has 12 points (5-7) in 13 games. Alex Pharand (Sudbury) has three points (1-2) in 12 games.

Ludwinski, who suffered an ankle injury last year, hasn’t missed a beat. Misiak is showing why he was taken first overall in the CHL Import Draft. Pharand notched his first goal of the season in a 5-4 loss to North Bay on Saturday.

Things look good so far in the Ontario Hockey League for Blackhawks prospects.