Down on the farm, the Chicago Wolves have a few rookies who are tearing it up. 2023 first-round pick Bradly Nadeau and 2021 second-round Scott Morrow have been making the AHL look like a breeze, putting together two of the best rookie campaigns in the league. With their proven dominance over AHL competition, should the Carolina Hurricanes consider giving them more NHL time?
Morrow played a few games with the big club before the 4 Nations Face-Off, getting two games as a bug trickled through the locker room. He averaged just under 11:30 minutes in his two contests as he still seeks his first NHL point. Nadeau hasn't seen any action this season with the Canes, though he made his NHL debut in the team's season finale in Columbus last April.
The Hurricanes have struggled to find consistent offense during February. They've been shut out twice and they've managed just 13 goals in seven games. Bringing in two of the Wolves' best scorers could be worth the call-up as the group tries to find a spark to get the offense rolling. It's better than switching the forward lines and hoping something works.
A lot of the focus regarding the Canes' recent stretch has been their struggles on the back end. Brent Burns has come under fire, but it's really all three defensemen they rely on for points who are failing to provide much to the group. This is where Morrow would be a great addition. Assuming he's given the proper runway to work, Morrow could jump right in.
Morrow could also join the Canes' struggling power play as the quarterback of the second unit. His 35 points are the second-most among rookie defensemen in the AHL, while his eight power-play assists are second on the Wolves behind Ryan Suzuki. If the coaches would give the first unit back to Shayne Gostisbehere, Morrow could slot in with the second group to bring a fresh look to the power play.
As for Nadeau, a team can never have too many goal-scorers. Tied for the team lead with 38 points, the sniper is pacing the Wolves with 21 goals, nine more than anyone else on the roster. What's even more impressive is that he's shooting 25 percent this season and has needed only 44 games to do it. He missed time to join Team Canada for the World Junior Championships in December.
Nadeau has been on a tear since the start of 2025. In the new year, Nadeau has 15 goals and 22 points in 22 games. After a slow start to his campaign, he appears incapable of staying off the scoresheet. I see no reason why the Canes can't call him up in Tyson Jost's place and throw him in the mix to see if he's ready for the big time.
With the Canes seeking answers, it's possible the solution isn't currently in the room. They might need to turn to the farm system to get them out of this rut. Scott Morrow and Bradly Nadeau have patiently waited for their chance, and I think they've earned a shot to prove themselves. Even if it's just for a handful of games, now could be the time for them to step in and show why they're the future.