Young forward Nolan Patrick has not played a game since April of the 2018-19 season. He managed to finish the season in Dallas with a 31 point season in a 6-2 loss. Patrick has not played since then because of a migraine disorder. I’m sure most of us know how difficult migraines can truly be. But having them all the time, especially when you play a sport that is infamous for head injuries, must not be fun to go through.
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Good news for Patrick and Flyers fans all around, he has been added to the training camp roster. Both He and Oskar Lindblom will be healthy and proactive additions to this season. Flyers’ General Manager Chuck Fletcher said last week, “We’ll wait for the doctors to meet with him for the pre-season physical,” that to me is a positive sign that Patrick will be cleared and play this season.
Piggybacking off of my story I did on Patrick back in July of last year. I had mentioned that people have their own thoughts on him not playing just because he has migraines. In the end I hope in that story made it clear that it is not safe and not smart to play with any type of head injury. Even if it is just “little” migraines. I had also mentioned that if he were to play while he has migraines that it’s something that could end his career prematurely. Doctors’ biggest piece of advice to you when you have a migraine disorder is to rest, that it takes time and maintenance. So far, for Patrick that has worked.
If he is 100% cleared for the season today, I would not be so critical of the kid with his first game back. He could bounce back better than ever before, or he could take his time getting back to what he was. Think about Dallas Stars’ defenseman Stephen Johns, he came back and it took him a minute to get steady again, once he was, he was unstoppable. However, Johns might not be playing this season, as both he and Patrick suffer from the same condition.
I don’t want to sound like a debbie downer when it comes to Patrick, however, if Patrick does have to stop his season prematurely, whether it’s his choice, the coaches, or his doctors. I wouldn’t be disappointed in him. It’s a healing process that takes time. Life is unpredictable and so is hockey. What I am trying to say, if the unfortunate does happen, please don’t bash him or think he did not give it his all. I’m sure anyone that knows him, knows he will.
In the meantime, all we can do is hope he is 100% cleared and will suit up this season. The Flyers start the season at home on January 13th at home against their rivals the Pittsburgh Penguins.
We should have learned something from Eric Lindros. I want Nolan around for years.
Absolutely! Very excited to see him start his journey back to the game, but his health comes first and I hope others realize that, too.