Evan Nause

February 2023 – Nause continues to progress slowly, now in his third QMJHL campaign. He is producing fairly well but is still under the point-per-game mark, which is not overly promising given that this is his Draft+2. Mobility and hockey sense continue to be above-average strengths, however, and those assets alone might be enough for him to realize his potential as a third-pair NHL defender. Ben Gehrels

July 2021 – Nause was selected in the second round, 56th overall by the Florida Panthers in the 2021 NHL Draft. Nick Richard

March 2021 – Cool, calm and collected, Nause is the kind of defenseman that you just don’t have to worry about. The Quebec defender is mobile and agile on his feet and although he doesn’t blow anyone away with his speed, he takes excellent paths to the puck. Nause ability to make decisions quickly and correctly with incredible consistency is what makes him such a capable player. Whether it be on a puck retrieval while dealing with a heavy forecheck of keeping the puck in at the offensive blueline, Nause understands what the best play is and makes it before his opponent can even react. His defensive game is smart and built around his mobility and play-reading ability. He is quite good in transition and he can make the first pass to the open man or he has the patience to control the play and take him time. Moving up ice, he will wait to draw opponents to him before sending a pass to a vacated area for his teammates. Nause is likely a better option on the second powerplay because he lacks that dynamic ability you’d like but he is a perfectly capable facilitator at the blueline who can patrol the point with confidence. There isn’t much that Nause doesn’t do at least at a slightly above average level. Tony Ferrari