Do you like shooters? Is your favourite kind of hockey player the one who can fire absolute lasers, and do so with significantly more accuracy than the Stormtroopers in A New Hope? If so, do I have the player for you.
Meet Bradly Nadeau, a New Brunswick native who shoots pucks like he’s trying to put them through the very walls of the arenas he’s playing in.
Birthplace: St-François-de-Madawaska, New Brunswick
Date of birth: May 5, 2005
Shoots: Right
Position: Centre
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 163 lbs.
Team: Penticton Vees (BCHL)
Nadeau was selected by the Rimouski Océanic in the 2021 QMJHL Entry Draft, but elected instead to continue his Junior career in the BCHL. He had a successful first season in Junior A, putting up 46 points as the third-best scorer on the Penticton Vees.
In his second BCHL season, Nadeau lit the league on fire with 113 points in 54 games, with only his older brother, Josh, coming anywhere close to him. This exponential increase to his output ramped up NHL interest in his services, and he now stands a chance at being a first-round pick, depending on whom you ask.
Nadeau’s output is buoyed by what many agree is one of the absolute best shots in this draft class. His snapshot is lethal in its accuracy, and he has a deceptive release that is incredibly tough to read. When a lane isn’t readily available, he’ll used the toe-drag release to shape his shot around defenders, sacrificing none of his power.
He’s also an elite one-timer threat. His timing and ability to adjust his body to imperfect passes make for a wheelhouse that is simply larger than most. He doesn’t need a perfect pass, he can adjust to them and deliver ferocious shots that look like they could go through the boards if they don’t hit the net.
His awareness, anticipation, and positioning play a big part in his shooting game as well. He’s always lurking, waiting to find the right opening from which he’ll call for the puck. Once he gets it, at the Junior A level, there aren’t many goaltenders with the reaction time to be able to get even a piece of the coming shot. Elite shooting skills paired with an innate ability to find soft ice is usually a good recipe for an NHL sniper.
He’s also perhaps a bit underrated as a playmaker, given all of the attention that his shot understandably gets. He can find his teammates in the slot when he doesn’t have a shooting lane, and though he has a tendency to force some ill-advised passes at times, this should weed itself out of his game with more experience. His stick-handling helps a fair bit in manipulating defenders before shooting or passing, it’s just a matter of being a little more patient with the puck at times.
Bradly Nadeau is our 21st-ranked prospect at @ScoutingService for the 2023 #NHLDraft. He's one of the best pure shooters from this draft class, but his playmaking skills are very good as well, and not talked about enough. Let's take a look at some of his best goals and assists: pic.twitter.com/KlmEDVdrmI
— Jérôme Bérubé (@Jerome_Berube) June 23, 2023
As is common with BCHL standouts, he is committed to the NCAA, specifically the University of Maine next season. He’ll be a few years away from turning pro as such, but should get an opportunity to really test his abilities and show some improvement on aspects other than his pro-ready shot.
This starts with his skating, which projects as average at best when compared to those at the professional level. He gets by just fine in the BCHL, but just being able to do what he does now at the NCAA level will require some improvement, and it should be interesting to see what he can do over the course of his time there.
There are also some concerns about his defensive acumen, as he’s currently lacking a little in terms of his ability to compete physically in his own zone. As a centre, this is particularly troubling given that the NHL is wildly unforgiving to centres who struggle defensively. Adding some muscle to his frame, and getting a little meaner in his own zone would be crucial, lest he transition to being a winger while in college.
There is a high-risk, high-reward nature to selecting Nadeau. If he puts everything together, his shooting abilities could make him a bona fide top-line scorer in the NHL. If not, he’ll have trouble cracking an NHL lineup, as he doesn’t project as someone capable of eating fourth-line grinder minutes.
If his skating and defensive play can just get to a point where his skills in the offensive zone can shine, he’s an intriguing prospect to have in your pool.
Preliminary Rankings
Dobber Prospects: #34
Elite Prospects: #35
FCHockey: #35
Hockey Prospect: #21
Hadi Kalakeche: #29
McKeen’s:#27
Bob McKenzie(TSN): #31
NHL Central Scouting: #17 (North American skaters)
Corey Pronman (The Athletic): #36
Scott Wheeler (The Athletic): #22
The general consensus one can gather from the rankings is that Nadeau has a shot at going in the first round, but likely lands somewhere towards the end of it, if not the early second. There is risk to picking him, but his offensive abilities are undoubtedly worth a shot in one of the first two rounds.
Those skills could pique the interest of the Montreal Canadiens at either pick 31 or 37. Let’s say they could get themselves someone with a high floor like Ethan Gauthier at 31, I believe they’d be interested in taking an upside bet with Nadeau thereafter. Perhaps they feel secure enough with whomever they took at fifth overall, and take their swing on Nadeau at 31 anyway.
It is a swing for the fences, but it could pay off handsomely if his development goes well. If you shoot your shot with Nadeau, you can be sure he’ll do plenty of shooting of his own when his time comes.
Matt Drake
