The Sabres drafted Nadeau in the fourth round of the 2021 NHL Draft

The Buffalo Sabres are considered one of the best deepest prospect pools in the NHL, not only because of their selecting high in recent drafts but also due to their eye for talent and their organizational choices of either leaving players to develop in their home countries or bringing them to North America. Leading up to the opening of training camp in mid-September, we will look at the club’s top 40 prospects. All are 25 years old or younger, whose rights are currently held by the Sabres, or are on AHL or NHL deals and have played less than 40 NHL games.

READ ABOUT OTHER SABRES PROSPECTS

21. SIMON-PIER BRUNET

20. OLIVIER NADEAU (JACKSONVILLE – ECHL / ROCHESTER – AHL)

Nadeau was the Sabres fourth-round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft and one of 11 selections that Buffalo had, including top overall pick Owen Power and first-rounder Isak Rosen. The winger won a Memorial Cup with the Shawinigan Cataractes in 2022 and had an injury-shortened season with Gatineau before turning pro last season.

Playing mostly with ECHL Jacksonville, the 6’2”, 204 lb. winger scored 24 points (12 goals, 12 assists) in 41 games for the Icemen, and scored a goal in five games with AHL Rochester.

A potential power forward candidate down the line, the Hockey Prospect Black Book said in his draft year that Nadeau “brings a unique set of skills to the ice. He is exceptionally good around the net and has great value on the power play….He’s also very unselfish on the ice. He does a lot of the dirty work for his line: battling, recovering pucks in the corners, and he doesn’t mind taking the punishment in front of the net.”

It is likely that the 21-year-old will get a longer look with the Amerks this season in hopes of taking another step in the maturation process.

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