It has been a disappointing beginning to his NHL career after coming into the league with so much promise, and as a result it sounds as though Philadelphia Flyers forward Nolan Patrick may be looking for a fresh start with a new team next season.
Patrick, 22, was taken second overall at the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. Though he was only able to appear in 33 games with the Brandon Wheat Kings during his draft year due to injury, he was able to make the most of them, registering 20 goals and 46 points. Just one season prior, he had managed to score 41 goals and 102 points in 72 games. There was no denying the fact that he was talented enough to be a top selection at the 2017 draft.
Health Issues
Unfortunately, injuries have continued to be a problem for Patrick. Heading into the 2019-20 season, he was expected to miss some time due to migraine issues, but it wasn’t thought to be anything too serious. That changed however, as the migraines continued and forced him to miss the entire season, a crucial one for his development. He was able to return this year, but struggled immensely with just four goals and nine points along with a plus/minus of minus30 in 52 games.
Through 197 career games, he has 30 goals and 70 points, which is very disappointing considering the hype surrounding him at the time he was drafted. Likely due to the struggles, TSN’s Frank Seravalli speculated on Thursday that Patrick may be seeking a fresh start with a new team heading into the 2021-22 season. If that is the case, it’s hard to blame the young forward, as nothing has gone his way this far in Philadelphia.
Seravalli mentioned that while the Flyers believe Patrick is just scratching the surface as a player, they may be forced to move him as it seems that may be what the player wants. He has reportedly hired his third agent in as many years, which is fueling the speculation that he would like a new beginning.
This will be an interesting situation to monitor over the offseason, as it is a tough spot to be in for the Flyers management. While Patrick is clearly a very talented player and could turn out to have a fantastic career, he has done nothing to prove that yet and would likely not garner much of a return on a trade. From their perspective, it seems they would rather give him another shot next season after a full summer of training and come to training camp healthy, unlike the past few seasons. Perhaps they are able to change his mind, but things don’t seem overly positive right now.
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