Fresh Start, First Taste of NHL Gives Bardreau New Perspective

For some, the journey a pro hockey player takes in hopes of one day reaching the NHL is never fulfilled. For others, a quick stop in the American Hockey League (AHL)-  to fine tune their game for the next level and await the opportunity to arise - is all it takes to make their biggest childhood dreams become reality.

Then there's Fairport, New York native Cole Bardreau - a guy that has seemingly had the odds stacked against him dating back even to his days in the collegiate ranks at Cornell University, where broken vertebrae in his neck was just the beginning of the hardships he endured on his way to signing with the Philadelphia Flyers organization as an undrafted free agent.

In his four years with the Flyers organization, three of his pro seasons were cut short due to injury. Whether it was a broken hand from blocking a shot in an NHL preseason game, or a broken hand from punching the opposition after taking a cheap shot - Bardreau's time with the Flyers organization - and their AHL affiliate in Lehigh Valley - was largely overshadowed by the multitude of injuries and time he missed.

After completing his two-year entry level contract, Bardreau was re-signed by then GM Ron Hextall to a second two-year deal. The former Flyers' GM had brought up Bardreau's name as a potential darkhorse candidate to make the Flyers out of training camp in the fall of both of those years, but it never materialized.

Advance to this past summer, with Bardreau entering free agency, and the New York Islanders came calling - signing Bardreau to a two-year, two-way contract and giving the energetic forward a second chance at making the NHL.

"It was nice to get a fresh start with a new organization and kind of not be labeled. I don't know, just a clean slate," Bardreau told InsideAHLHockey.com earlier this month, adding that he had nothing but great things to say of the Flyers' organization for giving him an opportunity coming out of college.

"Obviously it was a little different being the new guy," Bardreau continued, as he had spent the previous four+ years with the Flyers organization. "I can't say enough about the guys, the staff, everyone making me feel comfortable and having open arms. [It has] made my transition really easy."

Beginning the 2019-20 season in the AHL with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, a series of events in the opening month opened the door for Bardreau to earn his first NHL call up. With Casey Cizikas injured, Derrick Brassard struggling at the center position and Tanner Fritz injured on the AHL roster, Bardreau was the proverbial next man up.

"It was kind of a whirlwind of events and obviously finally makes the long haul worth it, I guess - to shorten it up," Bardreau recalled of getting the news of his first NHL call up and finding out he'd be making his long-awaited NHL debut. "I always use the word surreal. Not that I gave up hope but the older you get and the more years you put in you kind of think you're going in the opposite direction, especially with all this young talent coming up."

Bardreau made his NHL debut on October 19th in Columbus against the Blue Jackets, and in his fourth NHL game of his career - which fittingly came against the Flyers - Bardreau recorded his first NHL point, an assist. Just over a week later, during a November 5th game against the Ottawa Senators, Bardreau drew a penalty shot and recorded his first career NHL goal on his penalty shot attempt - beating goaltender Craig Anderson in what ended up being a 4-1 win for the Islanders that night.

"I can't thank the Islanders organization enough for giving me the sniff and especially that penalty shot," Bardreau recalled. "It's something I'll never forget."

After appearing in nine NHL games with the Islanders, Bardreau was reassigned to Bridgeport where he has now appeared in 20 AHL games this season. While he has yet to get on the scoresheet in the AHL this season, the taste of the NHL and his fresh start with the Islanders organization has rejuvenated the fifth-year pro's hockey career and given him a new outlook on the daily grind of being an AHL'er.

"I think it kind of just brings things full circle, and makes you appreciate that that at the end of the day it might be a tough journey but you're playing hockey for a living," Bardreau said, adding, "It's my favorite thing to do in the world.  Just to get that opportunity, it takes a little bit of the load off. Just go out there and enjoy that you play hockey for a living - and just appreciate every day. I could be doing a lot worse things. I think for me that was the biggest thing, just appreciating everything more and not getting so frustrated with the little details of the process and just enjoying the ride."

While he's back in the AHL and perhaps still riding the high of making his dream of playing in the top professional league a reality, Bardreau is still a hockey player and still has the competitive desire to be a part of a winning program. While Bridgeport is struggling as a team, Bardreau told InsideAHLHockey.com that this Sound Tigers team has the talent in the room but hasn't been able to put it all together through the first half of the regular season.

"It's been a frustrating year to say the least," Bardreau explained of Bridgeport's struggles this season. "Sometimes you don't have the talent in the room - and you're never going to win without talent - but the thing is here we have the talent and the pieces aren't falling together right now. You can blame things on injuries, call ups and what not but every team is going through that, at the end of the day we just need to find a way to win."