Nardella, 25, recorded 33 points (7g, 26a) in 47 games with Djurgardens IF in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) during the 2020-21 season, leading the team in assists and points and ranking fifth among defensemen in the SHL in points. The 5'9", 180-pound defenseman also added an assist in three playoff games.
During the 2019-20 season and in his first AHL season, the Rosemont, Ill., native led all Hershey Bears defensemen with 31 points (4g, 27a) in 41 games and tied for first on the team in assists and power play assists (13). Nardella's 0.76 points per game tied for fifth among AHL defensemen with at least 30 games played and his 13 power play assists tied for second among AHL rookie defensemen.
Nardella recorded 34 points (8g, 26a) in 38 games in the 2018-19 season with the University of Notre Dame, setting a personal collegiate career high in points. Nardella led Notre Dame in assists and points, was named as a Hobey Baker Award nominee and was named to the NCAA (B1G) First All-Star Team. A two-time winner of the NCAA (B1G) Championship each of his last two years at Notre Dame, Nardella averaged 0.54 assists per game during his collegiate career. Additionally, Nardella was named to the NCAA (Hockey East) All-Rookie Team and was named as Notre Dame's Rookie of the Year during his freshman year (2015-16).
In 147 career games with Notre Dame, Nardella recorded 103 points (24g, 79a).
At the international level, Nardella represented Team USA at the 2014-15 World Junior A Challenge, recording two assists en route to a gold medal in Kindersley, Saskatchewan. Additionally, Nardella won a silver medal in the 2013 Ivan Hlinka Tournament held in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. In 2012, as a member of USA Hockey's U-17 team, Nardella won a gold medal at the Five Nation Tournament held in the Czech Republic.
The Capitals signed Nardella as a college free agent on April 5, 2019.
