Flyers’ Patrick back on ice, in high spirits

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This article was published 21/02/2020 (2025 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

VOORHEES, N.J. — Nolan Patrick was clearly in a playful mood at the Philadelphia Flyers’ practice Friday afternoon, stick-handling pucks between the skates of stationary teammates and delivering high-fives after witnessing a flashy goal.

At the right times he turned serious, exploding from a standing position near the blue line to participate in an up-tempo rush, feeding cross-ice passes — tape to tape — to Travis Konecny, and listening intently as assistant coach Mike Yeo offered up a nugget of hockey wisdom as the two skated slowly together, shoulder to shoulder, across centre ice.

Forty minutes later, he was seated beside Konecny, his locker-room neighbour and best buddy in Philadelphia, and the pair shared quiet conversation mixed in with uproarious laughter as reporters milled about but steered clear of the stall with the “Patrick” name tag affixed above.

Watching him gave every impression he’s fully immersed in the Flyers culture, every moment of every day. But at this moment in time, he still isn’t.

Patrick, 21, has made considerable progress in his recovery from a migraine disorder that has kept him out of the Philadelphia lineup for training camp, the pre-season and the 2019-20 NHL regular season to date.

The Winnipegger has been skating on a fairly regular basis with the rest of the team in recent weeks, although no timetable has been set on when he can participate in contract drills.

Head coach Alain Vigneault admitted Friday he hasn’t had much interaction with the right-shooting centre since he’s participated in about half-dozen skates skates, adding his focus is on the healthy bodies he has at his disposal.

But he’s doubtful Patrick will compete with the Flyers down the stretch and into the post-season.

“I’m going on the premise he’s not going to be around us,” he said. “We’re almost at the end of February, no (training) camp, no games, yet.”

The Flyers (34-20-7) have managed to effectively shift pieces around to fill the void. Currently, it’s rookie Connor Bunnaman filling the slot.

But they could certainly use the former Brandon Wheat Kings star, the second-overall pick in the 2017 NHL draft, in their lineup should he receive medical clearance. Any return to hockey would include a conditioning stint with the Leigh Valley Phantoms of the American Hockey League.

“He’s a key player for us, for sure, so we miss him when he’s out, and we’ll be excited for that day when we do get him back,” said winger James van Riemsdyk, from the Flyers’ practise facility about 30 minutes from downtown Philadelphia. “No one knows when that will be. With these sorts of things, you just try to support your teammate in any way you can. There’s no outside pressure from the team. We just want to see him get well and feel good.”

Patrick’s no stranger to adversity. The son of former NHLer Steve Patrick and nephew of James Patrick, the coach of the WHL’s Winnipeg Ice who enjoyed a 21-year NHL career, has been hampered by injury since his days in the Western Hockey League. Yet, he managed to register 13 goals and 17 assists in 73 games during his rookie year, and then followed up with a 13-goal, 31-point season in 72 games a year ago.

But he’s absent any numbers in the final year of his entry-level deal, and lacks any bargaining power to negotiate a more lucrative deal.

Patrick declined an interview request Friday. But he expressed some positivity when he spoke with Philadelphia-based reporters last Monday — his first interview in more than a month.

“For the mental side of things, it’s way nicer to be around your teammates. Obviously, it’s been a lot of fun to come back. It’s fun for me to just be around the guys,” said Patrick. “It’s tough being alone. Being by yourself throughout the process and not being around the team.

“It hasn’t been a fast process. It’s not like one day I just wake up and it’s a crazy difference, this whole process. I don’t have a timetable, and when I do, you guys will know.”

jason.bell@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @WFPJasonBell