Buffalo Sabres: Will Olivier Nadeau breakout in 2023-24?
The Buffalo Sabres need to be impressed with Olivier Nadeau’s memorable 2021-22 season that may conclude with him raising the Memorial Cup.
The Buffalo Sabres have a few prospects heading into the AHL ranks that they are excited about. And the most exciting prospect from this past season might just be Olivier Nadeau, who signed earlier this offseason.
Nadeau, the 97th overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, had 16 points in 16 playoff games, leading his team to the historic Memorial Cup. If you didn’t already know, the Memorial Cup takes the best junior teams from the WHL, OHL, and QMJHL, plus one host team, and lets them battle it out to determine who is the best junior team in the country.
The Buffalo Sabres may have a breakout candidate in Olivier Nadeau
The four-team round-robin, including the three champions plus one host team, takes place through June 29th. And if Nadeau can continue his success against the best teams Canada’s junior hockey circuit offers, the sky is literally the floor for Nadeau.
Yet that bodes the questions: How good was Nadeau this past season? In 65 games for the Shawinigan Cataractes, he recorded an astounding 78 points (35 goals). Many have attributed Nadeau’s work ethic as his top attribute, although his skating drastically improved this season, especially when it came to speed.
Lance Lysowski of The Buffalo News also noted that Nadeau may just be the most unique player among all Sabres prospects. Not only has his skating ability drastically improved, but he is a physical player, regardless if it is on the forecheck or battling for position with defensemen in front of the net.
He also has the on-ice awareness in which, if he cannot get a clear shot, Nadeau quickly finds a teammate who can. Give him one more solid season in the QMJHL, and he may just be the breakout candidate with the Rochester Americans come 2023-24.
Wait! If Nadeau is performing so well at the junior hockey level, why do we need to wait until 2023-24 to see him in action over in Rochester? This is because the NHL and the Canadian Hockey League (CHL), the sanctioning body that oversees the junior leagues, have an agreement that will keep Nadeau out of the AHL until he turns 20 in January 2023.
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But fear not. Nadeau has more time to hone his game at the QMJHL level. So expect some immediate success when he reaches the AHL.
Update: Nadeau had shoulder surgery this past offseason and will miss four to six months.
Article Source: Sabres prospect Olivier Nadeau can cap ‘incredible’ season with Memorial Cup run