Goal-scoring prowess was his calling card as a draft-eligible player, coming off a league-leading 45-goal, 113-point campaign in the BCHL in 2022-23. Questions that were asked about his ability to translate that success to higher levels were quickly answered when Nadeau led the Univ. of Maine in scoring as a freshman, then paced the Chicago Wolves with 32 and 27 goals in his first two AHL seasons.
Opportunities at the NHL level have popped up along the way, and the 21-year-old has logged four points in 15 career games with the Canes. Twelve of those outings came last season, and with them, signs of what his GM referred to as a more “acclimated” version of one of the team’s top prospects.
“Every chance you get to play with the big boys, you always want to get a good showing,” said Nadeau. “But I think the more chances you get, the more comfortable you feel out there. And I think once you’re comfortable on the ice, you don’t just try to prove yourself; you just play.
“I think that’s when you can shine the most and really show what you can do. I think that every chance you get to play a game, obviously you get more used to the league, and I think that was one of the main reasons why it felt like that [last season] and why I think it showed.”
After punctuating last year with a run to the Calder Cup Finals, Nadeau ultimately suited up for 85 total games — by far the most he’s played in a season — which served as even more invaluable experience for a player looking to break into the lineup of a team that played 101 en route to the Stanley Cup.
“I think it’s going to help a lot, honestly. You know how long a season can be. That’s when you realize how much you have to take care of your body,” said Nadeau. “When you go two extra months, it’s a lot of extra games, and I think that just playing those meaningful games is going to help a lot in the long run. You know what to expect, too, when it comes to deep runs in the playoffs like that. Guys are willing to put everything on the line. It’s good learning moments, and it was good to be able to experience that in my second year of pro hockey.”