Rookie Bradly Nadeau has the Chicago Wolves ready for a playoff run
In 2022 the Chicago Wolves won their fifth leage championship. Three seasons later, after two fruitless seasons without playoff trips, the Wolves are third in the AHL’s Central Division and have already locked up a playoff spot.
Rookie left winger Bradly Nadeau, third in the AHL in points by a rookie, is a big reason why.
“I thought last year playing college, I had a pretty good season, and I thought, personally, I was ready to turn pro,” Nadeau said. “I came in to college and I was like, ‘I want to help the team.’ And I think I kind of came in this year with the same mindset.”
Nadeau’s year in college, at the University of Maine, saw him lead the Black Bears to the NCAA Tournament. He credits his time at Maine with making him a smarter hockey player.
“It was like a big step, going from juniors to college, and I think a big part of that, that helped me was the way I could see the ice. And I think doing that with stronger, faster players, I could see how I fit in,” Nadeau said.
And he’s fit in incredibly well with the Wolves, especially All-Star center Ryan Suzuki. The two have developed a brilliant offensive rapport, which helps explain why both are in the top 25 in the AHL in points. For Suzuki, having Nadeau on his flank while skating down the ice makes running the offense a breeze.
“A guy like me, who kind of tends to be more of a playmaker or passer type, always loves having a guy with the heavy shot on the wing,” Suzuki said. “He's an unbelievable player, and he makes me better.”
Their connection enabled Suzuki to represent the Wolves at the AHL All-Star Challenge on Feb. 3, the first time Suzuki had received all-star honors. For a man whose first game in a Chicago uniform came in 2020, the recognition was not something to take lightly.
“It was a huge honor to represent the Wolves there,” Suzuki said. “It’s just kind of a tribute to a good start to the season, so I was super proud of myself there.”
But Nadeau’s presence hasn’t just boosted Suzuki’s individual play — it’s boosted the team’s play as well. The Wolves’ 35 wins are tied for their second-highest total since 2020, and they still have five regular-season games to go. For Suzuki, the opportunity to keep playing deep into the postseason means even more than the All-Star honors.
“That's why you play, you know, to have a chance at winning a championship,” Suzuki said. “I'm just excited to get back to playoff hockey and just the excitement all around it.”
While Nadeau has also been infected by the excitement, he knows that the key is staying laser-focused on his team’s goals. As he learned during Maine’s loss in the NCAA Tournament last year, any lapse in effort or concentration gets magnified.
“When that time of the year comes, all those little details have to be really dialed in,” Nadeau said. “We just try and play as hard as we can, because the physicality definitely goes up a level when everything's at stake.”
And Nadeau is confident that the Wolves can achieve their main goal — bringing the Calder Cup back to Chicago. After all, the last time the Wolves made the AHL playoffs, they won it all. Nadeau doesn’t think this year should be any different.
“We're going all in,” Nadeau said. “And I know we’ve got what it takes.”