Former Bridgeport Islanders forward Cole Bardreau has signed a one-year contract with Italy’s HC Pustertal, as announced earlier this week. Bardreau concluded his sixth season within the New York Islanders organization in 2024-25, spending the most recent year playing for Bridgeport, where he tallied 18 points during 65 regular season games and contributed an additional 14 points.
Turning professional at the end of the 2014-15 season, Bardreau has played 11 NHL games—all with the Islanders—accumulating goals and assists. Throughout his decade-long professional career, he has appeared in 535 AHL regular season games with Bridgeport and the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, recording 97 goals and 216 points.
As Bardreau ventures into the ICEHL for the first time, this marks his initial experience playing overseas. Although his AHL statistics have declined over recent seasons, Bardreau remains capable of making an offensive impact and is expected to be a key player for HC Pustertal.
Fan Take: This move highlights how seasoned North American players are increasingly exploring European leagues, enriching the international hockey scene. Bardreau’s presence in the ICEHL could boost the league’s competitiveness and inspire hockey fans to follow emerging talents beyond the NHL.
