Nolan Patrick was selected second overall by the Philadelphia Flyers in 2017. Before being drafted he spent the previous four seasons on the Brandon Wheat Kings. In his first year for the Wheat Kings he played in three games and only tallied one goal. During the 2014-2015 season he recorded 30 goals and 26 assists to total 56 points in 55 games played. He actually led the WHL rookies with 30 goals. Patrick was then named the league’s rookie of the year.
The following season, he would score 41 goals and 61 assists to total 102 points in 72 games played, which landed him the fifth spot in the WHL. He was tied for the WHL lead with 30 points(13 goals and 17 assists) during the playoffs. Patrick won the postseason MVP award after helping the Brandon Wheat Kings reach the Memorial Cup.
In his final season with the Wheat Kings he was named Captain. He would score 20 goals and 26 assists to total 46 points in 33 games played. During the 2017-2018 season with the Flyers he would score 13 goals and 17 assists for 30 points in 73 games played. He would score his first NHL goal against the Nashville Predators on October 10th 2017. In the following season he would score 13 goals and 18 assists for 31 points in 72 games played.
Patrick would not play the following year due to a migraine disorder. He did however start practicing with the team in February of 2020 before the league shut down due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The young 22-year-old did return for the 2020-2021 season. So far this season he has only scored four goals and five assists for nine points in 45 games played. This season has not been his best so far and he has sadly struggled with injuries in the past. Although, from his WHL career we can see what a healthy Patrick is capable of. I do believe when he plays a full season that consists of a training camp and a pre-season, then he will improve. Only time will tell what he is fully capable of, but I do believe he has a bright future ahead of him. Keep in mind he is only 22-years-old and technically only in his third year in the NHL.Â
Don’t know if he’s a bust, but don’t think he’s worth protecting in the expansion draft.
He shows tremendous flashes of skill, speed and physicality, but they are only flashes. More often he seems slow, careless with the puck and disinterested.
The only way I can see protecting him is if they expose someone who would probably get drafted (Aube-Kubel), or to take a chance losing a higher dollar contract like Lindblom or even Konecny.
Adam, spot on with your Nolan Patrick evaluation. He has shown flashes of a very good player at times, but he has also looked awful at times too.
Nolan Patrick was brought up to the NHL a year too soon. He was a skinny kid who was coming off of an injury and he needed to get his game back by playing another year of junior hockey. He is almost invisible on the ice, most of the time. I don’t know if I would protect him in the Seattle expansion draft. I would actually rather protect Robert Hagg using the 8 skater format, rather than protect 7 forwards/3 defensemen. Gregg Lorenz, Bucks County Pa
I’d also like to see Hagg stay, although under the 7/3 format, I’m not quite to the point where I would suggest protecting Hagg over Myers, but Myers has raised more questions than answers this year. But since he is a RH, I think he makes the list while Hagg does not.
I just don’t see how they can go the 8 skater route. I assume you advocate it so they can protect 4 defensemen (including Hagg but NOT Ghost). But that just leaves 4 forwards, two of whom have to be Giroux and Hayes, leaving just 2 others. One has to be Couturier, then after that I think my last protected forward would be Laughton and hope that Konecny at > $5 million gets passed up.
No way they leave konecny exposed. Not a chance. It’ll be 7-3-1 without a doubt. Leave jake and ghost exposed and one of them will be chosen
Agree re 7/3/1. But after Hayes, Ghost and Voracek are our next worst two contracts. I’d be happy as a clam if one of them got drafted, but seriously doubt that happens.
I bet we lose one of Aube-Kubel, Hagg, Patrick or Lindblom.