Nolan Patrick has got to be pretty tired of the last few years. Injuries have haunted him for a while now and the pressure on a player who people have been saying will be the #1 pick since he was 14 has to have taken a toll.
He missed the Flyers rookie camp after surgery on his abdominal injury. There are no reasons for long-term injuries concerns the Flyers say and from a physical perspective they are right. Patrick's injuries have been pretty much random and he has shown he can still produce massive numbers despite some missed time.
When Sean Couturier came in to camp as a rookie it was immediately obvious he was mentally ready. He was the son of a coach and responsible in all zones...There was little doubt he needed more time at a lower level.
Nolan Patrick is also a very mature kid...the pressure of being considered a top prospect does something to a person for certain. I talked to Patrick when he was in Pittsburgh with the other NHL prospects and he obviously is accustomed to the question, "Are you healthy?" His response was "I feel great and I am getting better all the time" can be taken in many ways. Most took it as a simple rehearsed response...and it was. But as he said it I felt a sense like not only was he sick of saying it, he was sick of all of the publicity.
I asked him if he was happy to soon be getting this over with and not be "potential first over-all pick with a history of injuries" but instead a member of a team.
He pretty much lit up when asked that. It was what he really wanted and now of course he is "Nolan Patrick of the Philadelphia Flyers."
But I don't know if anyone, including him, knows if he is mentally ready for all of this...And Ron Hextall knows this as well. Hexy says this often and while many other GMs may just "say this" Hexy means it. He will not hesitate to send Patrick back if he senses any mental hesitation in Nolan.
And it will arguably be the biggest prospect in recent memory returned to juniors...Obviously in an ideal world Nolan Patrick would spend time in the AHL, but the agreement between the NHL and the Junior Leagues doesn't allow it. I really believe each team should be allowed to send one under aged player to the AHL, but that is another blog for another day.
Do you think the Flyers should send Nolan Patrick back for one more year of maturing?
Which team has the best goaltending depth (not including their starter) in the #NHL??
Join the Discussion:
»