Bradly Nadeau, who signed a three-year entry level contract with the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes last Sunday after an outstanding freshman season at the University of Maine, said his desire to play at a higher level led him to his decision to leave college after only one year.
Nadeau, a first-round draft pick of Carolina and the 30th overall pick last summer, said the Hurricanes let him decide his future.
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“They called me after the season and said it was up to me to make the decision (whether to stay or leave),” Nadeau said during a virtual press conference after a Hurricanes practice in the Invisalign Arena in Morrisville, NC on Thursday.
“It is better for me and my improvement as a player to be around better players and practicing with them,” said Nadeau, who played left wing at UMaine and has been practicing with the Hurricanes this week.
He said it was a “tough decision” to leave UMaine and his older brother Josh, who was his linemate and was the team’s second-leading scorer behind him by just one point.
The 5-foot-10, 172-pound Nadeau, chosen to the All-Hockey East second team and rookie team and an All-New England selection as well, tallied 19 goals and 27 assists in 37 games while brother Josh had 18 goals and 27 assists. Josh was a third team All-Hockey East pick.
Bradly Nadeau said the UMaine team that reached the Hockey East semifinals and the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 2011-12 season was like a “family.”
But he added that you have to “move on” and do what’s best for your career to reach the ultimate goal which is to play in the NHL.
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Amateurism has been replaced by professionalism in college sports, which has led to a flurry of offseason activity that mimics trades and contract wars in pro sports.
“I’m happy I got to play one year with them,” said Nadeau, who will turn 19 on May 5. “The success we had as a team helped me perform on the ice. The further you go (in the playoffs) , you face better teams and playing against good players really helped me get to where I am today.”
The Hurricanes have been stockpiling point-producing forwards this season.
They obtained seven-time 20-goal scorer Jake Guentzel in a trade with Pittsburgh and signed free agent Evgeny Kuznetsov, a four-time 20-goal scorer who had 32 points in the 2017-18 playoffs for the Stanley Cup-winning Washington Capitals.
They have also signed second round draft pick Gleb Trikozov from Russia and the University of North Dakota’s Jackson Blake, a fourth round draft choice who is one of three finalists for the Hobey Baker Award along with Boston College’s Cutter Gauthier and Boston University’s Macklin Celebrini.
Nadeau is the youngest of the three. Blake is 21 and Trikozov is 19 and will turn 20 in August.
Nadeau said he isn’t concerned about the addition of the four forwards.
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Sophomore right wing Lee Parks from UMass Lowell and sophomore defenseman Alexander Bales from Providence College will join the Black Bears.
“It’s always fun to see those guys sign,” said Nadeau. “Obviously, you want to see the team have success. It’s fun being around those guys.
“We’ll see what happens next year,” added Nadeau.
He is enjoying practicing with the team.
“It is a challenge. Obviously, these players are better and faster (than college players) and the goalies are better,” Nadeau said. “It’s fun to be able to gain some experience and get better as a player.”