With the 2019-20 campaign already past its’ halfway point, the Philadelphia Flyers should think about shutting down the former second-overall pick.
Still basking in the Philadelphia Flyers finally pulling out a win, no one wants to dampen that mood. But it is something that needs to be said and discussed. With the season over halfway through, it is time to talk about the reality of Nolan Patrick and the likelihood of him not returning this season.
It was devastating news when we all learned of Patrick’s migraine disorder. And with no clear timetable for that, it’s been hard to estimate exactly when he will be ready. The brain and head, in general, are not something to mess with. So it feels in everybody’s best interest that the Flyers officially shut him down for the season.
Is there a chance Patrick could return at some point? It is tough to say but, it is a possibility depending on how his treatments are going and how he feels. But there has to be a point where the Flyers, along with Patrick, decide it is time to shut things down. And we may be at that point.
Now into January, the Flyers have played 44 of their 82-game regular season. This means that they are just over halfway through the season. And Patrick is still on week-to-week status. Again, this isn’t easy to gauge because it is about Patrick feeling right. And it is about his ability to manage the migraines in a way that allows him to play.
The Flyers have treated this situation well so far by allowing Patrick to go at his own pace. And keeping him involved with the team has likely helped. But at this point, it seems hard to insert him into the lineup. With how much time he has already missed, he would be joining the team as they’re in the midst of a playoff battle.
That doesn’t seem fair to Patrick or the team. He has been skating, but almost completely on his own. He hasn’t seen game action since last season. It would likely take a while for Patrick to get up to speed, especially in a new system. He may have been able to learn Alain Vigneault’s system from watching, but playing is a completely different story.
It’s a hard pill to swallow, but if the Flyers want to continue doing what is in Patrick’s best interest, they should talk about shutting him down this year. And who’s to say they haven’t had discussions already? Being this far into the season, one would imagine that they have already taken place. We all know Patrick has said he intends to play in 2019-20, and why wouldn’t he? No doubt he wants to be back on the ice with his teammates.
That time will hopefully come. However, it’s a difficult thing to say that it will happen this season. Never say never because there is always a chance. It might not be a tough decision of where to put him in the lineup. You would want to ease him back in, possibly the third-line center role, which is a problem the Flyers have had with Patrick out.
That shouldn’t be a reason, however, to get Patrick back into the lineup. The Flyers have been able to piece things together when needed. And it wouldn’t be a surprise if they eventually add Morgan Frost back into the mix.
Nevertheless, shutting down the chances of Nolan Patrick playing this season is a direction the Flyers should take. It is in his best interest to think about his future after hockey.