Top-ranked NHL prospect Patrick throws out first pitch at Cubs game

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This article was published 20/06/2017 (2498 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

CHICAGO — Nolan Patrick can throw a batting-practice fastball for a strike, but will he be the lead-off guy Friday night at the NHL draft?

Enquiring hockey minds want to know.

The 18-year-old Winnipegger, surrounded by reporters and cameras behind home plate on a sunny, warm Wednesday afternoon at Wrigley Field, had no answers.

Patrick, a sensational two-way centre with the Brandon Wheat Kings of the Western Hockey League, tossed out the ceremonial pitch prior to the reigning world-champion Chicago Cubs’ battle with the San Diego Padres.

The floater to Cubs’ middle-relief pitcher Justin Grimm caught a piece of the strike zone; not bad for a kid who never played baseball.

That kid, however, is ranked No. 1 by NHL Central Scouting and many hockey pundits heading into the draft Friday and Saturday.

Whether the New Jersey Devils, owners of the first-overall selection, feel the same won’t be known until general manager Ray Shero steps to the podium at the United Center.

Patrick said he hasn’t heard if he’s the Devils’ guy or if the Eastern Conference club goes with dynamic Swiss-born centre Nico Hirschier, the No. 2-ranked prospect, instead.

“No idea, no idea,” he said. “It’d be an honour (to go first overall), but at the end of the day I don’t care if I go one, two, three, four. It doesn’t matter to me. I’m just excited to get drafted and have a chance to try out for an NHL team.”

If the Devils don’t grab Patrick, the Philadelphia Flyers most definitely will with the second-overall pick.

Patrick was joined on Chicago’s hallowed baseball ground by two other draft hopefuls — Casey Mittelstadt of Minnesota and Gabe Vilardi of Kingston, Ont.

Mittelstadt, 18, a high-scoring centre with the Green Bay Gamblers of the United States Hockey League, is the third-ranked North American skater by NHL Central Scouting, while Vilardi, 18, a power forward with the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League, is rated fourth.

The Winnipeg Jets have the 13th selection in the first round Friday.

Patrick had a sensational 2015-16 season in Brandon, firing 41 goals and adding 61 assists in 72 games. A misdiagnosed hernia injury forced him to miss more than half of the 2016-17 season, yet he managed 20 goals and 26 helpers in 33 games with the Wheat Kings and, most importantly, did not fall out of favour of most NHL scouts.

Patrick said his parents, dad Steve — a 1980 first-round pick of the Buffalo Sabres who went on to play eight NHL seasons — mom Carrie, sisters Maddie and Aimee, his girlfriend and a few buddies will be in the stands with him on draft night.

His uncle, James Patrick, a former standout NHL defenceman and new head coach of the Kootenay Ice of the Western Hockey League, will be there, too.

“Yeah, I wanted to have everyone down who was really close to me and meant something to me in my career so far,” said Nolan, noting he models his play after Los Angeles Kings star forward and captain Anze Kopitar.

Patrick said he’s pumped to be in the city where his favourite player, Jonathan Toews, the Blackhawks captain and fellow Winnipegger, has had so much success, capturing three Stanley Cups.

“He was my favourite player growing up. I watched him a lot as a kid and I still do now, and I like the way he plays the game and I think he plays it the right way,” he said. “He’s been a bit of a role model for me as a kid and that’s kind of why I started wearing No. 19 when I was younger. He’s obviously who I look up to.”

He said he’s trying to soak up every moment of the week.

“I’m not really a guy that gets nervous too much, so I’m just having fun with it. I’m not rushed to get the draft over with,” he said. “It’s something you only go through once in your life… I’m just going to take it day by day here and have fun.”

Considered a potential 2017 first-overall pick since he was about 15, Patrick could have let the hype get to him.

He said the way he was raised — particularly the support, encouragement and words of wisdom he received from his dad and uncle — prevented that from occurring.

“They’ve always stressed being humble. That’s something that they’ve prided themselves on and they kind of put that into me at a young age, so it’s something that I’ve focused on,” he said.

Patrick didn’t play baseball as a kid, and he had low expectations for his ceremonial pitch.

“I’m more nervous about this than the draft,” he said, drawing laughs from the media horde before noting his pitch choice was “a high lob.”

Patrick said he followed the Toronto Blue Jays’ playoff runs the last two seasons but isn’t what you’d call a baseball fanatic. Still, it was a special moment to take the mound at the home of the Cubs, who last season won their first World Series since 1908.

“I’ve never been to Chicago and I’ve only been to two MLB games before this, so it’s exciting any time to go to a new sporting event. And they’re the defending champs here, so it’s pretty cool,” he said.

jason.bell@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @WFPJasonBell