[Sandman]

RW Oliver Nadeau,6'2"205lbs (Shawinigan,QMJHL): 34gp/13g/32a/45pts,28PIM. Led the team in assists, points, and PIM, playing on a line with Mavrik Bourque and Xavier Bourgault. Selected 5th overall in the QMJHL Draft. Big power-forward who excels at everything, but isn't elite at any one thing, started out as a goal-scorer, but has evolved into a good all-around player. Playmaking winger who can play in any situation, including both sides of special teams, and late/close scenarios. "He can do so much without doing much of anything". Thrives in all aspects of the game.

Nadeau is a playmaker with an arsenal of smart, soft touch passes, and hard, accurate passes through traffic. Creates space and time by drawing attackers, then dishing to open players at the very last minute. He makes his teammates better, and by extension, makes his team better. Sky-high IQ and offensive awareness, always a few steps ahead of the play, and capable of making plays that other players simply can't. Underrated passing game, solid set-up man, creates chances every time he's on the ice. Tremendous distribution in exits and entries-delivers smooth outlets. Fantastic puck-control, holds on to the puck and waits for support to arrive. Amazing puck-protection, and stick-handling-he can skate around or through checks, and makes it impossible to take the puck from him. Nadeau boasts one of the heaviest shots in the draft-one writer calls it "Ovechkin-like". He can pick corners, or rip one-timers, and is adept at banging home rebounds in front of the net, where he likes to spend a lot of time. Drives the blue paint, and makes plays in-tight. Terrific improvisational skills, he can adapt to the changing situations around him, and adjusts to the style that fits him best at that moment-has both finesse, and sandpaper in him. Grit and compete are big parts of his game-he doesn't take a game, or a shift off, and uses his size and upper-body strength to win battles along the walls, and command the corners. He keeps the opposition on their toes with his relentless forechecking that causes turnovers and chances. Grinds and battles, and can play a physical game, with crushing hits. Quality 200-ft game, can wreak havok on every inch of the ice, and does well on the PP, or PK. Big frame keeps attackers to the outside, and he gets his stick in passing lanes-he's reliable and sound defensively, and never gets caught on the wrong side of the puck. He separates man from puck with seemingly little or no effort. His defensive game has come a long way-his IQ gives him a smart, complete game, and he's dangerous with or without the puck. He's also very consistent game-to-game, and shift-to-shift.

Mobility is the only real hole in Nadeau's game-he's good in a straight line, but most other aspects of his skating need work, including his lateral agility, first-step quickness, and acceleration. His on-ice vision and determination makes up for, and masks, most of his deficiencies. His stride doesn't affect his play in junior, as he likes to slow the game down anyway, while he waits for his teammates to set up, and get open. He says he's putting in the work to get faster, and more explosive. He has everything he needs to be a top-tier NHLer, as he oozes talent, and is electric when he's on his game. He's a diamond in the rough, but he's also the type of player that winning clubs want on their roster. He idolizes Patrice Bergeron, but he reminds me a bit of a poor man's Leon Draisaitl. Olivier has a good chance of making an NHL team as a two-way, top-nine winger-but he's also got a shot at being an impactful top-6 player. 2nd/3rd round.