I gotta wonder if Patrick was just diagnosed with cancer if these bums would still be complaining about the draft. Unreal.
- hereticpride

Everyone and their mother had him as a top 2 pick for YEARS.

Well, I guess except for two "experts" who have the magical power of Hindsight.

I thought Morin was a nice physical presence last night. Him shoving and tossing other players around was noticeable.
- shekkie

He sure looked good. Are all of the 8 d-men going to Europe?

He sure looked good. Are all of the 8 d-men going to Europe?
- NC Flyers Fan

Yes.

Uuhhh. Justin Faulk just went for a bag of pucks. Teams with cap issues would have readily dealt a second pair guy for a second overall pick. Cmon. Hextall’s ego took over and he made the wrong move. Not the first time that happened.


- acd513

Stating that ego was involved in Hextall deciding to pick Patrick with the 2nd overall pick is one of the most ridiculous comments I've read here on Hockeybuzz.

I'm frustrated with Patrick's slow development as much as anyone but right now I feel for him as a person. To be that young and saddled with a migraine issue can't be fun. I really hope they can get that under control to improve his quality of life. I know personally what chronic health issues can do to a person.

...And then kicked yourself for years that you didn't draft the big, skilled center who had been the consensus 1st overall pick in 2017 for nearly two years -- and almost still was even with injuries. Virtually every other NHL team would have taken Patrick at least second and absolutely no lower than 3rd. To say anything else is revisionist history.

Has Patrick made an instant impact offensively? No. But through his first two NHL seasons, Patrick has 19 more points than Sean Couturier did in his (note; the lockout half season skews this a bit) and only five less than Mike Richards did.

The migraine issue is a significant concern, clearly. But his development to date, while a little slower than other players, is well within the realm of many others who go on to be impact players offensively. Patrick, in fact, has had point-per-game stretches over 8-12 games at a time in years 1 and 2: the same sort of hints of what he can do on a more sustained basis as he matures offensively that Couturier (himself a consensus 1st overall pick entering his draft year) did multiple years before he moved up to the top line and everything clicked.

Now, Patrick is going to have to get and stay healthy. Chronic migraines are no joke, and will have to be managed. But his development cycle, while it didn't take a step forward point wise in year two, saw his two-way game take strides and his long-term offensive potential still remain pretty high.
- bmeltzer

Trading the pick had/has nothing to do with Patrick. Felt they could have got a very good return on it. Everything is revisionist history. Not disagreeing at all Patrick shouldn’t have been the pick as he should have based on all the reports. Just saying the time to move a high-end pick was then.

I’m not frustrated with Patrick’s development as much as I am his injuries. Prior to Simmonds’ trade, I thought Patrick, Simmonds and Laughton were the most effective checking line we had all season. They were at least the most hard working.

It’s important for a center to be positionally sound and take care of his own end first. If you do this, the offense will come.

I'm frustrtated with Patrick's slow development as much as anyone but right now I feel for him as a person. To be that young and saddled with a migraine issue can't be fun. I really hope they can get that under control to improve his quality of life. I know personally what chronic health issues can do to a person.
- MJL

Lurking again, I really couldn't have said this better myself if Patrick was on the team. I think the shame of all this is that there is a legitimate non zero chance that he could be forced to retire from this and suffer the rest of his life.

Reading through the comments, I'm not quite sure it's revisionist history to suggest that Hextall should have at least entertained trading the pick if he knew of all the issues (and we honestly don't know that he didn't at least listen to offers), but no sane person can fault him for just keeping the pick and taking the best player on the board.

Patrick is going to develop just fine and hell turn into the Flyers elite in time. Hes still very young and has so much potential, theres too much upside for people to even question what player he is or will be. With a solid 2C itll give him plenty of comfort and less pressure. By January you'll see this kids play will earn him a nice contract and remember... you've heard it here first folks. Also much excited about this D core and the depth we have on the blue line. Morin is ready to step in when need be this season and having a crowded back end is definitely not a bad thing. With so many of our kids coming up in the system this squad is ready to win and this is absolutely exciting to watch... and how about that Carter Hart?

Cale Makar was the kid to get.
Patrick was hurt then and he is hurt now. There was nothing about Patricks game that stood out to me except he was a fast big Kid with althletic gifts from his father. Other kids could not touch him Physically and he could skate decently for a big kid. The problem was he was always hurt, a huge red flag. At the next level playing against guys his size he struggles. NJ was scared off by the numerous injury issue he has, which has continued unfortunately.

I'm frustrated with Patrick's slow development as much as anyone but right now I feel for him as a person. To be that young and saddled with a migraine issue can't be fun. I really hope they can get that under control to improve his quality of life. I know personally what chronic health issues can do to a person.
- MJL

Well put, but I actually see this diagnosis as somewhat of a positive. He doesn't have to worry that it is Post Concussion Syndrome and the lingering worry of if he is at jeopardy of early onset CTE. That has to be a huge weight off his mind from one standpoint. Additionally, he can put the physical work in without worrying it is setting him back. It just becomes a tolerance issue.

While migraine syndrome/cluster headaches are no joke, significant strides in treatment protocols have been made. I personally like the kids chances.

Bill, thank you for summing up the Patrick migraine situation information so well and for your level headed assessment of him as a player. There must be other players in the NHL dealing with migraines. Didn't Nick Bjugstad have migraine issues? I dont think there's anything out there that will cure migraines, but I'm wondering how successful other players have been with dealing with this problem?

There are lots of teams around the league who will need to waive guys to get under the cap by Wednesday, e.g. the Capitals. Maybe Fletcher is waiting to see who is available on waivers, and in the meantime he's just going with 12 forwards plus Stewart as the backup on a PTO.

Anyone else just tired of shootout? It’s not exciting at all imo.
- SMS4016

I was so hyped up for the first one in 05-06.

Now I don't even watch.

The pick should have been traded for a top 3 defenseman+ aka what this team is still in desperate need of today.
- acd513

They already have three top 4 dmen aged 26 or younger.

Lurking again, I really couldn't have said this better myself if Patrick was on the team. I think the shame of all this is that there is a legitimate non zero chance that he could be forced to retire from this and suffer the rest of his life.

Reading through the comments, I'm not quite sure it's revisionist history to suggest that Hextall should have at least entertained trading the pick if he knew of all the issues (and we honestly don't know that he didn't at least listen to offers), but no sane person can fault him for just keeping the pick and taking the best player on the board.
- 2sticks1puck

Hextall's self-imposed mandate was to build the prospect pool. His plan was to build a cup contender from ground up. Trading a #2 overall pick would have been against his plans. The only thing that he may have mulled over and staying within the mandate was trading the #2 for two later 1st round picks (not sure if any team was in that position).

This whole Nolan #2 pick reminds me of the Kane-JVR draft. Again we had the number 2 pick, with two (or three with Turris) tough choices at number one and we had the leftovers.

lol gotta love the why did we pick Patrick..

Lets rewind the season leading up to landing Patrick.

Giroux wasn't 100% and all were saying he was declining and that we were sooooo screwed moving forward with having no center.

Then the hockey gods bless us with a strong, big 2 way center.

I gotta wonder if Patrick was just diagnosed with cancer if these bums would still be complaining about the draft. Unreal.
- hereticpride

Complaining about the team and feeling sorry for themselves, not the kid who just turned 21.

lol gotta love the why did we pick Patrick..

Lets rewind the season leading up to landing Patrick.

Giroux wasn't 100% and all were saying he was declining and that we were sooooo screwed moving forward with having no center.

Then the hockey gods bless us with a strong, big 2 way center.
- arichardson22

It's largely the same people who were happy at the time to get Patrick so that bum Couturier could stay at 3C where he belonged. They never stop vomiting bile, they just switch targets.

Stating that ego was involved in Hextall deciding to pick Patrick with the 2nd overall pick is one of the most ridiculous comments I've read here on Hockeybuzz.
- MJL

It's largely the same people who were happy at the time to get Patrick so that bum Couturier could stay at 3C where he belonged. They never stop vomiting bile, they just switch targets.
- Feanor

And I wouldnt doubt those same people said they hope we win the lottery to get a young center prospect like Patrick

Stating that ego was involved in Hextall deciding to pick Patrick with the 2nd overall pick is one of the most ridiculous comments I've read here on Hockeybuzz.
- MJL

Really. So you just don’t believe any of the stories that came out after Hexy got fired?

Patrick was the right pick at second overall. Somebody else should have been picking him. I wasn’t alone in thinking it was time to trade a first for a roster player. Not a knock on Patrick. He looks to have a solid NHL career ahead of him.

Hextall’s blue line of first and second year kids was a disaster. His process was more important to him than the team’s success. This is why Fletcher just had to overpay for Braun and Niskanen.

Let’s be honest, Hextall’s drafting wasn’t that great. He GMd a basement dweller with multiple first rounders and his only home run was a goaltender in the 3rd round.

Hoping to read a story which interviews doctors that treat migraines. Did a quick Web MD search and it seems somewhat similar to post concussion syndrome symptoms. Nausea, sensitivity to light, sharp pain in head. I'm glad he knows what it is and can start a treatment program but would love to hear from an expert about how will a professional hockey player continue his career. Tough road ahead for Patty. Hopefully he bounces back.

Central scouting had him ranked as the #1 NA skater, over Hischier (Kim Kostin was the #1 ranked European). He was a consensus #1 pick back to 2015 in his first full season with Brandon. But yes, Hexy is an idiot for taking him.

So yeah, if we could trade him for Pettersson or Makar right now, then yeah I'd do it. But any other GM (okay, maybe only 29 or 30) would have made the same pick at #2.

They already have three top 4 dmen aged 26 or younger.
- Feanor

I’m guessing you’re referring to Provy Ghost Sanheim?

Ghost is an all offense defensive liability.

Sanheim is a stud but not quite there yet.

Provy is a second pair guy on a good team.