Nolan Patrick goes 2nd overall to Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers selected Nolan Patrick with the second overall pick in the NHL draft on Friday night.
Nolan Patrick
Position: Center
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 198 lbs
Age: 18
Club: Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
Nationality: Canadian
| GP | G | A | P | ES GPG | ES PPG | ES GF% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33 | 20 | 26 | 46 | 0.42 | 0.79 | 61.02 |
(Even-strength stats courtesy: prospect-stats.com)
Patrick battled through a pair of injuries this season, missing 35 games in the regular season and all four of the Wheat Kings' playoff games, but he was the consensus top prospect coming into this draft.
He seemed to put any lingering health concerns to rest at the scouting combine, getting medically cleared for all tests, then holding his own despite being bested by the other highly touted prospect, Nico Hischier, in many of the events.
The 18-year-old had a productive season considering its abbreviated nature, and that came after a 41-goal, 102-point campaign in 2015-16.
Patrick finished as the top-ranked North American skater this spring, and while he's not considered to be a generational talent like Auston Matthews or Connor McDavid, scouts still expect big things from him.
"He has more than proven over the last three years that he is the real deal and he will be an impact NHL player," Central Scouting director Dan Marr told NHL.com in April.
He has a pro hockey pedigree, too, as the son of former NHL forward Steve Patrick and the nephew of former defenseman and coach James Patrick.
"He's got a good understanding of the game, has been taught good fundamentals from a young age," NHL Central Scouting's Matt Ryan told NHL.com. "There are a lot of guys who don't seem to have that understanding of the effort it takes to play at a high level with and without the puck. Nolan Patrick does."
Click here to watch Patrick highlights.