July 20, 2017
Center Nolan Patrick was the second-overall pick in last month's NHL Entry Draft, but there have been injury concerns surrounding the 18-year-old since well before that.
Most recently, a second abdominal surgery kept him off the ice during development camp (but not out of the bubble soccer portion of the Trial on the Isle). And now, after signing his entry-level contract on Monday, Patrick is back on the shelf, this time due to a "facial infection."
That ... that doesn't sound pleasant.
Here's more from TSN, including a few reasons why yet another injury for Patrick (no matter how minor it may seem) shouldn't be ignored:
The Flyers confirmed Thursday Patrick would be held off the ice due to [an infection in his face].
The 18-year-old played in only 33 games in the WHL last season due to a misdiagnosed sports hernia, leading to his second surgery in late June.
The Brandon Wheat Kings centre was also unable to appear in the WHL playoffs due to a leg injury. He's broken his collarbone twice and underwent the first sports hernia surgery last summer. [tsn.ca]
That's quite an injury history for someone who won't be 19 for almost two more months.
Patrick, who was expected to return to the ice earlier this week, was held out of practice again on Thursday, according to the team:
Per #Flyers GM Ron Hextall, Nolan Patrick will not skate today due to an infection in his face.
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) July 20, 2017
There's no indication yet of when the No. 2 pick will return to action, but according to NHL.com, he won't take part in any on-ice portions of the upcoming tryouts for his country's national team:
He also is scheduled to attend the World Junior Summer Showcase for Canada in Plymouth, Michigan, which runs from July 28-Aug. 5 but will not skate there. The camp is part of the process for picking teams for the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship. [nhl.com]
The good news for Flyers fans is that there's still about two months until training camp opens.
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