Don’t write off Nolan Patrick with the Flyers just yet

Even though he missed the entire 2019-20 season, Nolan Patrick shouldn’t be written off for the Flyers just yet.

Migraine disorders are tough to work out. It isn’t an injury to the head, but rather something in the brain. It isn’t something that can be easily diagnosed or treated. The Flyers have learned that over the past year with Nolan Patrick.

It has been over a year since he last took the ice in an NHL game. The migraines were an issue that Patrick previously dealt with when he was younger. It is possible that a concussion he sustained in the NHL had something to do with them returning the way they have.

Patrick is at the end of his entry-level deal and is looking for a new contract. But how do you go about that when said player hasn’t appeared in a game in such a long time? Are you going based on what you previously saw? Or do you look at the potential that still remains?

One thing is for certain, the Flyers won’t let Patrick go. At worst, he is sent a qualifying offer and the team finds a way to get something for him. But that seems like the last resort and almost impossible to happen. It’s more likely the team figures out more of a prove-it type contract. That’s not to saw Patrick has to prove he’s worth it necessarily.

It is tough to say that when he has been dealing with something out of his control. It more so means the deal itself maybe for a year or two and not too high of an AAV. There aren’t really any comparable contracts we can look at in this situation. So the Flyers will have to take a different approach to figure out what Patrick may be worth.

He is still a former second-round pick. So there is a type of expectation that comes with that status. There has been support from everyone in the organization and there is an expectation that he will return to the ice at some point during the 2020-21 season.

"“I still remember practices we had this year and he came on the ice and some of the new coaches were looking at us like this kid is pretty good. We want him to get healthy. He’s going to be a big piece for us this year.”"

Hopefully, he is able to come into the season, whenever that may be, and return to form. Whatever that form may be at the time. It’s possible we haven’t seen the best from Patrick. But there’s only one way to find out.