Nolan Patrick last played in an NHL game on April 2, 2019, a game in which he tallied an assist in a 6-2 Flyers loss to the Dallas Stars. Since then he has been sidelined with a migraine disorder, which saw him miss the entire 2019-20 season, to include playoffs.
Since then some have doubted the talented Patrick to play in another NHL game, but they have also wished Patrick good health from those that have doubted Patrick’s return to the NHL. Flyers’ General Manager Chuck Fletcher has been optimistic about Patrick’s return all offseason, and today he hinted at Patrick returning straight to the lineup if he is cleared to do so at training camp, even after missing an entire season:
“I guess we’ll have to wait and see how things going with Patty and how he feels. I don’t know that you take it slowly. If anything, everybody’s basically on the same page right now. Nobody’s in mid-season shape. In some ways, this might be the right time to re-introduce players back in. I know he hasn’t played in a while, but at the same time there’s seven teams that haven’t played games since last March. It’s going to be a different start for a lot of players and a lot of teams. Clearly, everybody will be in better form by mid-season than what they are at the beginning. It’s going to be relative even that way. It might be a good opportunity for everybody to get going on the same page.”– Chuck Fletcher
Nolan Patrick is a talented player that has tallied 26 goals, and registered 35 assists for 61 points in 145 games played over a course of three seasons of hockey. Moreover, his ability to shut down top lines, as he thinks defense first cannot be understated. Patrick played on the top line with JVR, and Giroux in his second season (2018-19), and he was faced with facing top line after top line on some nights. He closes gaps on players, much like Sean Couturier does so well.
For his efforts, Patrick finished with a career highs in Points (31), Hits (72), TK (40), and Blocks (26) for the 2018-19 season. Even with a crazy year with Ron Hextall being fired, Dave Hakstol being fired, Wayne Simmonds being traded, and a locker room that was in flux, Patrick still managed to post career highs in those categories mentioned.
“Nolan, I watched him skate today. He’s an amazingly talented young man. He looked great. Feels good. Again, we’ll wait for the doctors to meet with him for the pre-season physical. Life is unpredictable. We certainly saw that last year. I can’t make predictions on anybody. I think we’re in a good shape going into camp and we’re excited to get these two players back (Spoke about Oskar Lindblom as well).”– Flyers President and General Manager Chuck Fletcher
This young 22-year-old in Patrick is just so darn talented. He is a giddy kid, good character guy in the locker room, as he sang Lionel Richie’s big hit, “All Night Long,” throughout the course of the 2018-19 season. Let’s hope Patrick overcomes his battles with the Migraine Disorder, and comes back 100% for the 2020-21 season.
Just wondering if the NHL is going to play to empty stands this year.