A Lost Season and Migraine Disorder are Obstacles to Patrick’s Return

Patrick, if healthy, would give the team another capable scorer who could exploit favorable match ups and provide offense for the team. Patrick would not need to score 30 goals, this should not be the expectation although it is possible,  but contribute by scoring 15 goals on the third line. If he can do that it would bode well for team success.

If Patrick is able to manage his migraine disorder, we may be getting the best version yet of Nolan Patrick. If this is so, how could he fit in may be the real key to improving the Flyers. It would seem that Patrick would be the favorite to grab the 3C spot, which could allow Scott Laughton to move to 4C or better yet over to the wing. Once Laughton is free to move, the down line possibilities are really exciting.

If Laughton moves to the wing with Patrick holding the 3C, it would leave Frost, Bunnaman and perhaps Rubstov vying for the 4C role. I do not see Frost as a fourth liner, though perhaps the Flyers are so talented and deep that they do exactly that, giving the team four lines of capable scorers. If Frost lives up to expectations the Flyers would be an offensive juggernaut. I do not think four scoring lines are likely, but perhaps a healthy Patrick allows Frost to move to the wing on a scoring oriented line, maybe even on Patrick’s line. That is a delicious possibility.

Bunnaman is another piece that could be freed up and would be my pick to play the 4C.  Aube-Kubel, Raffl and Bunnaman could be a great forechecking and cycling line. Bunnaman has shown some scoring over his career which is great but more importantly a line of Bunnaman, Aube-Kubel, and Raffl give the Flyers a fourth line with an identity and hard working forecheckers. Bunnaman would also soak up some of the penalty kill minutes and preserve Hayes and Couturier for more 5 v. 5 minutes.

A dark horse piece is German Rubstov. He could be asked to play, and possibly even perform well in a shutdown role. While still to early to call the former first round pick a bust, he should be looking to make an impact at the NHL level. Retarding a player’s development by implementing a defense first, or defense only role is something I am generally against in young players. However, Rubstov is now 22, not 18 like Couturier was, and needs to start contributing somehow and defense may be the ticket to get him into the lineup.

It is fair to say that a healthy Nolan Patrick presents a series of “good” problems for the Flyers. Given Patrick’s health to this point in his career, expectations should be tempered a bit for his individual production, but the down-stream line implications of his return should have fans feeling optimistic. If he becomes a reliable cog in the Flyers machine it opens an avenue of opportunity for the young prospects competing for a spot on the team.  I can’t remember a time, since 1984 (Smith, Tocchet, Zezel, Craven and the Sutters), where the team looked so solid in lines one through three, and the fourth line tinkering would be done with mostly young players with upside.  One thing is for sure, a healthy Nolan Patrick makes a bright future even brighter.