Nadeau Ready For Whatever Comes After Wolves' Cup Run

Bradly Nadeau spent last season living in two places at once, and he sounds fine with doing it again.

The third-year pro spoke with The Hockey Writers one-on-one after both of Carolina's practices on Friday, Sept. 18, as the Hurricanes opened their 2026 training camp. Nadeau had two separate stints with Carolina last season, playing 12 NHL games and scoring three goals. General manager Eric Tulsky said he looked more "acclimated" the second time up.

The bulk of his year was in the AHL, and it was a big one: 27 goals and 56 points in 52 games with the Chicago Wolves, then seven goals and 17 points in 21 Calder Cup Playoff games. The year before, he had zero points in two postseason appearances.

The Wolves won the Western Conference, beating the Texas Stars, Grand Rapids Griffins and Colorado Eagles before reaching the Calder Cup Final. Carolina won the Stanley Cup.

"Every time you get a chance to go deep in the playoffs like that, it's always a good experience," Nadeau said. "It's when you get into the playoffs like that; it's to adjust to the other team. You're gonna see them over and over for a few games."

The part of his game he keeps circling back to is what happens away from the puck.

"Without the puck, it's a bit harder in juniors. You feel like you play a little more with the puck. So that was the first few years of pro," he said. "I've been focusing a lot on that."

There is a path to NHL minutes early. Seth Jarvis is recovering from shoulder surgery and skated in a no-contact jersey at camp. He said he is slightly ahead of his initial schedule, but Carolina has not set a return date. The Hurricanes have named Nadeau among the possible replacements during his absence. If he opens the season in the AHL instead, he will be playing for Wolves head coach Spiros Anastas.

"If you work hard, the good things are going to come," Nadeau said. "So it's just to really focus on that and see where it goes."