As in 2024-2025, Nadeau saw himself lining up in the ECHL with the Jacksonville Icemen for the majority of the campaign. Though his output (28 goals, 22 assists, 38 penalty minutes in 48 games) was decent, it is a concern when a player is left to play in weaker leagues rather than seeing their development be against tougher competition at higher levels. His goal totals sat him 14th in the league in far fewer games than those above him, and his points per game sat him 23rd overall by players with at least 20 games played.

As we stand now, his performance in the ECHL has been decent enough, but the sand is slipping through the hourglass for Nadeau. Ideally we would hope to see him not only get a meaningful stint in the AHL this coming season, but also see him perform well if we were to continue to have interest in investing in him for our fantasy teams.

Nadeau joined the Rochester Americans at the start of the 2023-2024 AHL campaign but did not dress until November 1, 2023. He played in three games that week, scoring his first AHL goal on November 4 before being scratched once more. He returned to the lineup on December 2 and played once more on December 16 before being assigned to the organization’s ECHL affiliate, the Jacksonville Icemen. During his ECHL debut, Nadeau scored two goals and an assist. He recorded seven points in his first five games. In 41 games with the Icemen, he scored 12 goals and 24 points, finishing thirteenth in Iceman scoring. In spite of this, he helped them finish sixth overall in the ECHL standings to secure a playoff berth. The Icemen were eliminated 4-3 in their best-of-seven South Division Semifinals series against the Florida Everblades. Nadeau scored two goals and an assist in the series. As a net-front, high-traffic, relatively stationary attacker, his current form is somewhat limited at the professional level. He must continue to develop his positional awareness and add more line-driving, aggressive attributes to his offensive skill set.

After winning the QMJHL Championship in 2022, the Shawinigan Cataractes traded Nadeau to the Gatineau Olympiques. Because of an injured shoulder, he could not participate in the Buffalo Sabres’ 2022 summer development camp. Surgery followed. He did not debut with Gatineau until midway through the 2022-2023 campaign when his recovery was complete. As a 20-year-old this past season, Nadeau scored 22 goals and 46 points in 34 games. He recorded a plus-minus rating of plus-41. His latest point totals with Gatineau were very similar to his 13 goals and 45 points in 34 games with Shawinigan in 2020-2021, his draft season. Within the context of the injury and having missed the first half of the season, Nadeau took time to be in mid-season form. The Olympiques named him captain on February 17. He provides a physical presence along the boards as well as in the offensive zone crease, and routinely serves as a screen. His style of attack revolves around astute positioning, being in high-traffic areas, and utilizing his frame to battle for rebounds and to deflect pucks. Nadeau and the Olympiques were swept in the third round of this year’s QMJHL playoffs by the Quebec Remparts. He is now eligible to play in the AHL. The Sabres, as a result, have assigned Nadeau to Rochester while the Americans continue their playoff run against Toronto. He is expected to spend next season in the AHL. –

Nadeau signed a three-year, entry-level deal with the Buffalo Sabres on May 22, 2022. As an alternate captain with the Shawinigan Cataractes of the QMJHL this season, he led his team in scoring with 35 goals and 43 assists in 65 regular-season games. He subsequently helped the Cataractes win the QMJHL championship with four goals and twelve assists in 16 playoff games, placing fourth among his team’s playoff point-scoring leaders. Nadeau is now slated to help his team compete at the 2022 Memorial Cup.