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Hurricanes’ Nadeau & Robidas Continue Hot Start to the Preseason

Bradly Nadeau, Carolina Hurricanes (James Guillory-Imagn Images)

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Hurricanes’ Nadeau & Robidas Continue Hot Start to the Preseason

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers | By Zach Martin | Last updated Sep 23, 2026 10:05 AM ET

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Through two preseason games, Carolina Hurricanes prospects Bradly Nadeau and Justin Robidas continue to impress on the ice. After the two games with the Florida Panthers, they’ve combined for four goals and five points. How much of an impact have the duo made so far this preseason with the Hurricanes?

Making an Early Preseason Impact

When talking to Nadeau back on Friday, Sept. 18 after practice, one thing he mentioned was how he was working on his off-puck movement. In juniors it’s easy to play more with the puck compared to the American Hockey League (AHL) and the NHL.

Nadeau stated, “We had a really good coaching staff along the way, so I was fortunate to learn a lot going through, you know, in Penticton, in Maine. I’ve seen Chicago as well. 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. I’ve been focusing a lot on that, but no, as I said, I was fortunate to have those coaching staff and players along the way that have helped me to get through here. And you know, it’s been a good journey, but obviously, it’s just the start of it.”

In the first preseason game against the Panthers on Sept. 20, Nadeau drove to the opposite side of the net from Robidas, who was looking for a shot in Jacob Markstrom. Instead, Robidas found Nadeau backdoor and put it right on his stick for the tap-in goal to make it a 3-3 game at the time. It erased a two-goal deficit at that point.

Fast forward to the second preseason game on Tuesday night (Sept. 22), Nadeau was in front of the crease trying to take away Markstrom from seeing the puck. He was able to get his stick on a Mike Reilly shot from the blueline and tipped it in to tie the game 1-1. Nadeau also scored in the shootout to help the Hurricanes defeat the Panthers 3-2.

Following the game on Tuesday, head coach Rod Brind’Amour stated when asked about Nadeau, “When it gets on a stick, he can rip it. That’s what I always talk about, ‘What do you do?’ You have to have something to hang your hat on. We know what this guy does.”

Regarding Robidas, he made it a 3-2 goal in the first preseason game against the Panthers before providing the primary assist on the Nadeau trying goal. He was the only player to have a multi-point night to begin the postseason.

He followed that up with a game-tying goal in the second preseason game against the Panthers on Tuesday night. It was a much needed goal for the Hurricanes in the second period to tie the game, which led the game going into overtime. In the end, the Hurricanes won thanks to goals from Nadeau and Felix Unger Sörum.

Justin Robidas, Carolina Hurricanes (Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images)

During the off-season, the Hurricanes signed Robidas to a one-year, two-way deal. After a solid 2025-26 season, where Robidas finished with 23 goals and 60 points in 58 games, it made sense for them to keep him for another season.

Over the last two seasons, Robidas has tallied 43 goals and 115 points in 128 games in the AHL. He’s one of the players who is in the mix to make a case to take Seth Jarvis’ spot in the interim as he recovers from shoulder surgery. Between how he and Nadeau have been playing so far in two preseason games, they’re both making a case to get a longer look at training ca.o and the preseason.

While there are still two preseason games remaining, both Nadeau and Robidas have left a huge impression so far in camp. It’ll be interesting how the last two preseason games go against the Nashville Predators on Thursday, Sept. 24 and Saturday, Sept. 26 if they draw into the lineup.

With how they’ve been playing so far, they’ve done more than enough to get a longer look, especially with more NHL regulars in the lineup. When it comes down to it, it’s hard to ignore what Made u and Robidas have done so far through two preseason games.

This article first appeared on The Hockey Writers and was syndicated with permission.

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