A quick game report on his performance on November 25th 2020 :
Nadeau is playmaking power forward, who exhibited the ability to control the puck through traffic and tight spaces thanks to an outstanding upper-body strength, impressive balance and surprising puck skills. His ability to dominate the offensive wall and protect his puck with authority was at the forefront of his game tonight. At 17 years old, Nadeau is already one of the most physically mature player in the Q, which gave him the ability to just toy around with his opponents left and right. He had enough power to knock anyone off the disc, which consequently helped him recover plenty of pucks along the boards. What distinguish him from other power forwards, is his capacity and willingness to act as a playmaker coming out of puck battle wins. Flashing wizard-like puck protection, staying in control of the disc through checks and sticks, Nadeau was able to keep possession of the puck long enough to wait for teammates crashing the crease. Even when passes didn’t connect, you could see his full creativity in effect, and his uplifting enthusiasm to create high-danger chances for his allies. Nadeau’s skating has always been the focus point of his NHL potential, and while there’s still a lot of work left before he can jump to the next level, I’m left very optimistic seeing how much progression he has showcased in less than a year. It can be night and days at times, seeing the improvement in his foot speed and acceleration in comparison to last season. Nadeau can become a bit sluggish at the end of shifts, but for the most part, his refine skating allows him to get involved in all areas of the ice and battle for loose pucks. The 2021 eligible doesn’t possess the pin-point accuracy of snipers, but he owns an heavy shot that can do damage and an eagerness to crash the net looking to bury rebounds or quick passes. He mostly worked as a playmaker through transition, and he loved setting up teammates. Nadeau also constantly puts the extra effort on the backcheck, where he works very well with an active stick from behind and can lay his body too. Nadeau is quickly becoming a favorite of mine, thanks to a mix of high-end compete, skilled puck protection, and intelligent playmaking. With the right development, I could see him becoming a valuable middle 6 power forward.