A big development in the Philadelphia Flyers centerman’s road to recovery.
Folks, the Pat is Back. Well, sort of. In what might be the best news Philadelphia Flyers fans will hear all day, centerman Nolan Patrick practiced with the team Thursday afternoon without wearing a non-contact jersey, something he hasn’t done since his migraine disorder was revealed to the public back in September of 2019. The 2017 second overall selection was seen sporting a slightly tinted visor while out on the ice and wore a white jersey along with forwards Connor Bunnaman, Michael Raffl, and Nicolas Aube-Kubel.
This is, without a doubt, a big step in the right direction for Patrick as he battles with his migraines. While it may take a bit of time for him to eventually return to the Flyers lineup given he hasn’t played a game of professional-level hockey in almost of year, seeing Patrick skate and take part in drills with his teammates with little restrictions can only be a positive sign for the young forward. Also, putting hockey aside, Patrick practicing means that he’s more than likely feeling better in his day-to-day life. I can only imagine the type of hell the migraines have put him through over the past few months and, like every other fan out there, am happy that they’re seemingly improving with treatment.
Getting Patty back at any point during 2019-20 would be a substantial boost for Philadelphia, especially as they continue to push for a playoff spot. The Flyers have a glaring hole at the center spot in their Bottom-6, one that Patrick could fill upon his return. I’m sure General Manager Chuck Fletcher would rather solve this problem with an in-house move over spending additional assets on a rental at the Trade Deadline and could allow him to focus on a different weakness if Patrick is good to go in the near future.
There have been no other updates on Patrick as of yet, but I’d expect one of Fletcher or AV to speak on his return sooner than later.
Update: AV said that this practice was a skills-only one, which is different from regular team practices. Even then, Patrick making an appearance with his teammates is an optimistic sign of advancement.