CHL notebook: Sabres prospect Nadeau back in form after shoulder surgery

Future NHL stars are developing in the Canadian Hockey League this season. Each week, NHL.com will highlight a few of the top NHL-affiliated prospects in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, the Ontario Hockey League and the Western Hockey League.

Olivier Nadeau
paid a price to reach the Memorial Cup last season. But after recovering from shoulder surgery, the Buffalo Sabres forward prospect is back to being an offensive force.
Nadeau had 16 points (four goals, 12 assists) in 16 playoff games to help Shawinigan win the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League championship and had six points (four goals, two assists) in four games at the Memorial Cup last season.
Producing at that level is remarkable considering the injury to his right shoulder.
"It happened on a face-off in April of last year," Nadeau said. "It was just before the playoffs. Then during the playoffs it was popping out a couple times a game."
Nadeau had surgery July 22 with a recovery time of 4-6 months expected. Making matters more difficult was a trade that sent him to Gatineau earlier that month.
"It was tough," Nadeau said. "New team, new teammates. Can't practice with any of them, can't play with them. Tough to get know them. They were practicing, so I wouldn't see them too much. That was tough."

But Nadeau, a fourth-round pick (No. 97) by Buffalo in the 2021 NHL Draft, has made things look fairly easy since making his season debut Dec. 28. He has 33 points (17 goals, 16 assists) in 22 games, including four goals and an assist against Ottawa of the Ontario Hockey League on Feb. 9.
"He's been an impactful player since his return, and I think that's exciting for us," Sabres director of player development Adam Mair said. "It's been a great return from injury. It was a long process for him, but he's jumped back in and he's doing a great job."
The production the Sabres have seen from the 20-year-old has been nice, but they're happier with the process that has led to those results.
"Are the players, RW, Flint (Chicago Blackhawks):* Hayes has 14 points (four goals, 10 assists) during a season-high nine-game point streak. That includes a season-best three assists in Flint's 6-1 win against Kitchener on Feb. 18. The 18-year-old OHL player, selected by Chicago in the third round (No. 66) of the 2022 NHL Draft, has 59 points (28 goals, 31 assists) in 55 games this season.
Jordan Dumais, RW, Halifax (Columbus Blue Jackets): Dumais became the first QMJHL player with 100 points this season when he had four goals and three assists in a 11-3 win against Moncton on Feb. 19. The seven points were a QMJHL career high, and it was his second four-goal game in three seasons in the league. He has 32 points (12 goals, 20 assists) during an 12-game point streak, his longest this season. The 18-year-old, selected by Columbus in the third round (No. 96) of the 2022 draft, leads the league with 106 points (42 goals, 64 assists) in 49 games.
Kevin Korchinski, D, Seattle (Chicago Blackhawks): Korchinski has 13 points (two goals, 11 assists) during a nine-game point streak. He had a season-high four assists, including three in the first 8:20, in an 8-1 win against Victoria on Feb. 18. The 18-year-old, selected in the first round (No. 7) of the 2022 draft, has 59 points (eight goals, 51 assists) in 42 Western Hockey League games.
Photos: Dominic Charette*