Valade is a smooth skating speedy forward who can find the high percentage scoring areas. He’s an excellent skater in transition with a quick step and nice edgework through traffic. Speedy winger who has a knack for punching through the defense and getting controlled zone entries. He competes well in the slot and seems to become more effective as he gets more confident with the puck. He can be an effective quick strike winger who can provide solid offence through a nice pass or shot, though he needs to show these abilities more consistently. Has a quick release on a high-end wrist shot with a high caliber finish. Possesses the soft hands to dangle through traffic while maintaining top speed. A menace in front of the net, he has good hand-eye coordination and the ability to tip and redirect shots towards the net.  Has the ability to win battles around the net despite being much smaller than most of the defenders he’s battling. A decent defensive player, he seems to understand the positioning and angling aspects of defensive play but can sometimes get lost in the shuffle during a persistent cycle. His battle along boards isn’t what you’d like it to be, even as a smaller player. The reality of his defensive game is that he understands it and shows proof of that with a general sense of positioning, but he seems to be doing it all at half-speed. Overall, while he shows flashes of excellence, he can disappear at times due to his inconsistency.

– FCHockey’s 2020 NHL Draft Guide