Caroline Hurricanes Bradly Nadeau is Flying Under the Radar Amongst the NHL's Incoming Rookie Class
By Ben Huffman
When looking at the Vegas odds for the 2024-25 Calder Trophy, there are a lot of flashy names. San Jose's first pick Macklin Celebrini feels like a safe bet and teammate Will Smith might have a case. Philadelphia's Matvei Michkov is another frontrunner. Some goalies also could make a run, like Yaroslav Askarov or Dustin Wolf. Nowhere in any of these conversations is Hurricanes rookie Bradly Nadeau.
After being selected 30th overall in the 2023 Draft, Nadeau scored 19 goals and 46 points for the Maine Black Bears while playing on a line with his older brother, Josh. The dynamic duo helped lead Maine to a third-place finish in Hockey East and a regional appearance. While their tournament experience was short-lived, Nadeau felt it was time to move on to bigger things.
Nadeau signed his rookie deal late in the season and debuted in the team's season finale in Columbus. While his final line for the game didn't look great, finishing with a -3, Nadeau had several scoring chances and nearly scored his first goal. It was a glimpse into what could come for Nadeau in the NHL.
With his college hockey days behind him, it's time for Nadeau to turn his sights toward becoming a full-time NHLer this season. He has a good chance of doing so, with the Hurricanes looking to find consistent top-end scorers outside Sebastian Aho, Andrei Svechnikov, and Seth Jarvis. While he has yet to earn that reputation in the big leagues, anything is possible in Rod Brind'Amour's system.
Nadeau's first chance to get some eyes on him will be during the 2024 Prospect Showcase from September 13 to 16 in Nashville. Like last season, a team of prospects will face off against similar teams from Tampa Bay, Florida, and Nashville. He'll play alongside other top prospects, like Jackson Blake, Felix Unger Sorum, and Scott Morrow.
Once the showcase has ended, Nadeau's next objective will be to make the Opening Night roster by performing well during training camp. As a rookie, he's likely to see plenty of ice time during the team's exhibitions against the Lightning, Panthers, and Predators. His chemistry with Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Martin Necas, and Jack Drury is what I'm going to be looking for throughout camp.
If Nadeau makes the roster, he will be put in a position to succeed under Brind'Amour. His wicked shot could make him a mainstay in the Top 6, playing on the lines relied upon to score goals. He'll also see plenty of time on the power play. His defensive game will likely need some work, but that will come with experience and maturity.
If he starts piling up the goals and points, Nadeau could plant himself in the middle of a fascinating Calder race. His rookie season won't be judged as a success or failure by where he finishes in the voting for the award. If he can put up a rookie season similar to Jarvis three seasons ago, that would be fine with me. While I want Nadeau to succeed immediately, it's imperative to avoid placing the pressure of the world on the rookie's shoulders.