Chase Bradley expected to turn pro

UConn forward Chase Bradley is expected to turn pro this offseason, head coach Mike Cavanaugh confirmed to the UConn Hockey Hub. Originally a seventh round pick of the Detroit Red Wings in 2020, the junior will look to sign an NHL deal with he becomes a free agent this summer.

“He's looking to turn pro. That's what he's told us,” Cavanaugh said.

In the event that Bradley doesn’t find a suitable deal, the Huskies would be more than happy to welcome him back. They’re not counting on him to be on the roster next season, though.

Bradley has been one of UConn’s best players over the last two seasons. He put up 10 goals and 10 assists as a sophomore then surpassed those marks with 11 goals and 11 assists as a junior. While the rest of the team dealt with inconsistency throughout the campaign, Bradley was a steady force up top.

“He was such a great player for us for three years. I'd love to have 20 guys like him — his competitiveness, he’s an unbelievable kid to coach. I enjoyed him all the time. He was a stand up kid,” Cavanaugh said. “He wasn't perfect but when Chase made a mistake, he owned it. He brought so much to the team. Again, I would I would recruit him 100 times out of 100 — players like him.”

Bradley ranks 13th in career goals and 15th in career assists during UConn’s Hockey East Era.

He’s also responsible for one of the most memorable moments in program history — an empty-netter in the 2022 Hockey East Quarterfinals that sealed the Huskies’ first postseason win in league and prompted Cavanaugh to turn around and bang on the glass in celebration.