Guest Writer: Taking a chance on Nolan Patrick

Philadelphia traded him because his agent tried to stiff-arm them with new contract demands.

When you're -30 with 9 points in a season, you really don't get to dictate terms. Yikes.

So off he went. To wherever, for whatever. A bag of pucks would have worked.

I have nothing against the kid, but he's damaged goods. And if he starts this season like last season, he won't be in the NHL at all.....nobody is going to put with that.

What's in it for Vegas?

Surely Glass has more upside than Patrick. Not even factoring in the health issues

Patrick has a shot at the top 6. Billy is the only top 6 center on this team. Carrier and Roy are not top 6 C's. No way.

Philadelphia traded him because his agent tried to stiff-arm them with new contract demands.

When you're -30 with 9 points in a season, you really don't get to dictate terms. Yikes.

So off he went. To wherever, for whatever. A bag of pucks would have worked.

I have nothing against the kid, but he's damaged goods. And if he starts this season like last season, he won't be in the NHL at all.....nobody is going to put with that.
- Nh_kong

Oh man. That is a great point. He remains to be signed as an RFA and the Knights are so pressed for cap space. They currently can’t activate Tuch in January when he’s scheduled to be back unless there are injuries or they clear space. His agent is likely fighting for something around 1-1.5 per year.

I appreciate you pointing that out. Chances are they let him sit until he accepts something close to ground level. Even then they’ll need to move something to make it all work. That Dadonov trade is going to cost them from day one.

Thanks for the input! I fixate on the Western Conference so I can have an informed opinion on those teams and, to be frank, the Flyers are a hot mess and team that requires so much attention to follow. I watch about eight Flyers games a year outside of playoffs. The team has so many interesting storylines going on at once. Careers are born and others die every year on that team. Every time I watch them I think Farabee deserves the cap hit he earned, but I’m still surprised to see him get 5x7. Thanks again for the input.

Oh man. That is a great point. He remains to be signed as an RFA and the Knights are so pressed for cap space. They currently can’t activate Tuch in January when he’s scheduled to be back unless there are injuries or they clear space. His agent is likely fighting for something around 1-1.5 per year.
- fry

AND VGK needs to sign 2 players after signing Patrick.

Patrick has a shot at the top 6. Billy is the only top 6 center on this team. Carrier and Roy are not top 6 C's. No way.
- Only_A_Ladd

Stephenson definitely proved he can hang with the top line. We’ll see about next year though. Some injuries don’t just go away. His skating was what allowed him to hold his own on that line. If he was too injured to be in the lineup in playoffs then it was serious enough to haunt him this next season.

AND VGK needs to sign 2 players after signing Patrick.
- Only_A_Ladd

Who’s moving out in your opinion? There are options, but they’re all solid contributors on the team. It’s possible the organization is keeping an injury under wraps for LTIR purposes.

Stephenson definitely proved he can hang with the top line. We’ll see about next year though. Some injuries don’t just go away. His skating was what allowed him to hold his own on that line. If he was too injured to be in the lineup in playoffs then it was serious enough to haunt him this next season.
- fry

Uggg...meant Stephenson. I have my doubts, but we will see. Patrick has the talent to earn that spot. Head injuries do linger.

Who’s moving out in your opinion? There are options, but they’re all solid contributors on the team. It’s possible the organization is keeping an injury under wraps for LTIR purposes.
- fry

I have no clue, actually. You mention the Dadonov trade. That really screwed up their flexibility after gaining all that room by trading Fleury. Smith would be a desirable piece for a contender at the deadline but Vegas will not be a selling club, and a trade at the deadline doesn't help their cap situation now.

There are 11 teams over the cap right now. Granted, many will get relief with LTIR. But I do wonder if this is the year we'll see a team or two miss the deadline to be cap compliant by the deadline.

Step 1:

To the Philadelphia Flyers: Ryan Ellis

To the Nashville Predators: Phillipe Myers and Nolan Patrick

Step 2:

To the Nashville Predators: Cody Glass

To the Las Vegas Golden Knights: Nolan Patrick

- Eklund

That is not a 3-way trade.

I have no clue, actually. You mention the Dadonov trade. That really screwed up their flexibility after gaining all that room by trading Fleury. Smith would be a desirable piece for a contender at the deadline but Vegas will not be a selling club, and a trade at the deadline doesn't help their cap situation now.

There are 11 teams over the cap right now. Granted, many will get relief with LTIR. But I do wonder if this is the year we'll see a team or two miss the deadline to be cap compliant by the deadline.
- Only_A_Ladd

What is the penalty or implications if they are not. Never really had to think about that before

Just to help with your informed opinion Farabee got 5x6.

What is the penalty or implications if they are not. Never really had to think about that before
- GPerogie

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NHL_salary_cap

Players, agents or employees found to have violated the cap face fines of US$250,000 – US$1 million and/or suspension. Teams found to have violated the cap face fines of up to US$5 million, cancellation of contracts, loss of draft picks, loss of points and/or forfeiture of game(s) determined to have been affected by the violation of the cap.

VGK is already over the cap WITH Tuch on LTIR. When Patrick is signed, they'll be at 21 contracts (but still over the cap). Of the 11 teams, 2 are at 22 contracts right now, with the rest at 23 or 23+. VGK is the only team over the cap at 20 contracts. A unique problem.

AND VGK needs to sign 2 players after signing Patrick.
- Only_A_Ladd

Patrick is just waiting for his $6.1M offer sheet to come in.

First of all, as a Flyers fan, and a coach of young players (travel baseball), definitely wanted to see Nolan be successful, and part of the Flyers. He's a great kid, has gone through a lot and hope to see him get through it.
As for the business side of it, he wasn't happy with a bottom 6 role. All I can guess is that after struggling in 2020-21, is looking for a fresh start, can't blame him. But he used chemistry with the coaches as a reason to want off of the Flyers roster. Can't blame the coaches either, as they allowed him a spot on the roster after missing 17 months to help him get back on track. There was a real need on the team for a solid 3rd line center. It could be argued that Nolan could have pushed Hayes for the 2nd line center spot. None of that happened. His skating prevented him from getting to spots on the ice that a centerman needs to be productive. He is a not a checking-only type center at all, therefore I don't understand how he slots into a 4th line role on Vegas. That role requires a face-off prowess and dogged forechecking, something that he couldn't pull off, probably because his profile is a power forward. After the migraines, he did not play as physical, so the power forward thing also was not prominent in his game. It could be argued that it wasn't there prior as well, or just not hard enough on pucks.
He is going to have to improve in a lot of areas to stay on the VGK roster long term.

Patrick is just waiting for his $6.1M offer sheet to come in.
- jmatchett383

Summed up in the Bob Marley song, ‘Waiting in Vain’

Guest Writer: Taking a chance on Nolan Patrick
- Eklund

Glass > Patrick. I hope to see Patrick put together a healthy season, but the time he had taken away from the game will surely hamper his development. When Heiskenan, Makar, Pettersson are the 3 picks to follow... yikes!