The NHL Entry Draft will occur on June 28 & 29 in Nashville. If it seems like we’ve been looking towards this date since CHGO Blackhawks launched in March of 2022, it’s because we have! The Chicago Blackhawks won the right to draft future superstar Connor Bedard with the first overall pick. However, they currently own 10 picks in one of the deepest drafts in recent years, including six in the first two rounds. With that in mind, the CHGO Blackhawks crew will dive into some of the prospects the team is potentially targeting for some of those picks after changing the course of the franchise with the number one pick.
Today we profile forward Bradly Nadeau of the BCHL’s Penticton Vees.
Bradly Nadeau Measurables
Position: Center/Left Wing
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 175 pounds
Rankings
The Athletic (Scott Wheeler): #22
Flo Hockey (Chris Peters): #39
NHL Central Scouting: #17 NA Skaters
Elite Prospects: #35
Quotables
“His greatest strength is his offensive awareness; he knows how to dissect BCHL defenses better than any other player in the league. He supports this ability by constantly surveying the ice for teammates and opponents, as well as lanes to exploit.” – Sebastian High, Dobber Prospects
“His shot almost looks automatic sometimes – overwhelming. He’s scored at every level of hockey he’s played to this point in his young career. Nadeau is the perfect target for a team who possesses multiple first-rounders or one that wants to swing for the fences at the start of the second day of the draft.” – David St. Louis, EP Rinkside
“Nadeau was an unstoppable offensive force in the BCHL this season, scoring 113 points in 54 games. It was one of the 10 highest-scoring seasons in the league over the last 20 years. He followed that up with 35 points in 17 playoff games. He’s a crafty offensive player with excellent hands and a good shot. He might have one of the best one-timers in the draft as well.” – Chris Peters, Flo Hockey
Video Highlights
Why Bradly Nadeau Fits with the Blackhawks
While the BCHL doesn’t get the same attention or talent as the OHL, WHL, or QMJHL, the numbers Nadeau put up this past season cannot be denied. He had 45 goals and 113 points in 54 regular season games. He followed that by scoring 17 goals and 35 points as the Vees went 16-1 to win the Fred Page Cup. He has one of the best shots in the entire draft. Many scouts rate only Connor Bedard’s shot better than this 18-year-old sniper.
Nadeau’s one-timer is elite and deadly. He sets up in the left circle and terrifies goaltenders like Alex Ovechkin, Artemi Panarin, and Alex DeBrincat. Thoughts of Bedard setting up Nadeau for these laser beam shots is very exciting. His feet keep moving to confuse defenders, making it easier for him to find the soft areas of the ice and then strike. He has the skating and hands to be a dynamic NHL scorer, but his playmaking abilities are lacking at times. However, a shot as good as his will open up plenty of chances for him to set up his teammates.
This is the perfect player for a team with multiple early picks to take a shot at. Enter the Blackhawks! Nadeau will need time to develop his game, and he is taking the route to maximize this. He is another young Canadian player heading to the NCAA as he is committed to the University of Maine for the fall. A shot like his does not come around too often, and with Bedard added with the first pick, Kyle Davidson could be a player to grab him if he’s still on the board.
Photo Courtesy: Jack Murray
