Two ‘Tobans in Top 10
Winnipeggers Patrick, Glass picked 2nd, 6th in 2017 NHL Entry Draft
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 22/06/2017 (2471 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
CHICAGO – Nolan Patrick is pegged as the kind of player NHL clubs build around.
On Friday, the Philadelphia Flyers got the talented Winnipegger when he dropped into their lap with the second pick of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft at the United Center.
Patrick, 18, a centre for the Brandon Wheat Kings of the Western Hockey League, was the top-rated player by NHL Central Scouting in its final rankings of all draft-eligible prospects.
But the New Jersey Devils used the No. 1 pick they fluked into at the draft lottery in April to select exciting Swiss-born centre Nico Hischier, 18, of the Halifax Mooseheads of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
Patrick showed no signs of disappointment surrounded by cameras and reporters, wearing his Flyers jersey and ball cap.
“It’s tough to put into words right now but it’s a special day for me and my family,” said Patrick. “(Dropping to No. 2) doesn’t really matter to me. If you don’t want to draft me, then don’t draft me.”
Patrick did not make history as the first Manitoban ever chosen first overall in the 54-year history of the draft. But fellow Winnipegger Cody Glass did become an answer to a trivia question when he was taken sixth overall by the Vegas Golden Knights — the expansion club’s first-ever draft choice.
“Obviously, it’s a historic day,” said Glass, a centre with the Portland Winterhawks of the WHL. “Just to be a part of the Vegas organization is unbelievable. It’s an honour. I think they believe in me a lot and that’s something I really appreciate and I just want to prove them right with their pick.”
Patrick, the son of former NHLer Steve Patrick, nephew of former NHL player and coach James Patrick and grandson of a legendary Winnipeg Blue Bomber, the late Steve Patrick Sr., had been labelled as the guy most likely to go first in the draft.
The 6-2, 198-pound centre is a smart, skilled leader who plays a well-developed, two-way game.
Hischier was rated second but bolstered his draft stock — at least in the eyes of Devils general manager Ray Shero and his scouting staff — with an electrifying rookie season in Halifax. He scored 38 goals and recorded 86 points in 57 games during the 2016-17 QMJHL season.
Patrick battled injuries last season in Brandon but still had 20 goals and 26 assists in 33 games.
He said falling a spot won’t have any bearing on his drive to make the Flyers this fall.
“No, not at all. Me and Nico are completely different players. He might be a little more offensively dynamic than me and I might be more defensive than him,” he said. “They wanted him, so it’s not like I’m sitting here mad, wishing I went to Jersey.”
Immediately, Patrick is the top prospect in the Flyers’ organization and will be given every opportunity to step into the lineup of the Metropolitan Division club that missed the 2016-17 playoffs.
He joins a club that includes star forwards Claude Giroux and Wayne Simmonds, along with former Wheat Kings’ defenceman Ivan Provorov.
“He’s going to be a star right away here,” Patrick said of Provorov. “He’s an unbelievable player.”
The Flyers haven’t won a Stanley Cup since the 1974-75 campaign. Patrick said he wants to be an integral piece as the organization builds to change that.
“I just want to make the NHL and establish myself. I’m just going to try to play my game and contribute as much as I can,” he said. “In a couple of years they’re going to be a really good team.”
Flyers general manager Ron Hextall was asked by reporters if Patrick can be a No. 1 centre down the road.
“Nolan is gonna have to answer that. We see a kid with a big body, extremely high hockey sense and really good skill set,” said Hextall, a Brandon product and a former Wheat Kings goalie.
“But you know what? You get drafted today and your work starts now. You have to put the work in.
“This is another level. You can play junior hockey and everything else, but this is the National Hockey League, and he’s going to come to camp in September and he needs to have a big summer.”
Glass, meanwhile, said he was thrilled to be one of two Manitobans to take the draft stage early.
“Me and Nolan, he’s a great person on and off the ice. That shows what Winnipeg and Manitoba really bring to the table for hockey and moving forward I think there’s a lot of talent coming up,” he said.
Interestingly, he has played hockey in Vegas before, and things didn’t go so well.
“Yes, for a hockey tournament when I was around 10 I think. I played for the junior Steelers and I came second in that tournament so I was pretty disappointed in that but I’m looking to many more games in Vegas,” he said.
“I didn’t really see that as a hockey place when I went there, but now that they have the new team and I see the fans and see the ticket holders sold out, it’s going to be unbelievable.”
He joins an organization with three other Winnipeggers already on the roster in goalie Calvin Pickard and forwards Cody Eakin and Brendan Leipsic, all selected in the expansion draft Wednesday.
Glass said there were some nervous moments as top names started coming off the board.
“At one point I was sitting there waiting for my name to be called and my hands were shaking. I got picked by Vegas and now it’s a huge opportunity for me,” he said.
Patrick credited his father and uncle for aiding him in his quest to be an NHLer, and he also expressed gratitude to Kelly McCrimmon, the former Wheat Kings coach and GM now working as an executive with the expansion Golden Knights.
“I could go on and on about Brandon. Kelly McCrimmon was huge for me and he helped me develop as a player,” he said.
“When I was 16 he made me work for my ice time and he pushed me to succeed after that. He’s a great hockey man.”
Patrick’s father said there was definitely relief when his son’s name was called.
“When you’re rated in the top two, you just hope that happens. So we’re really happy for him,” he said. “He’s worked really hard at his development, like all the kids here have, so this is great.”
jason.bell@freepress.mb.caTwitter: @WFPJasonBell
Jason Bell
Sports editor
Jason Bell wanted to be a lawyer when he was a kid. The movie The Paper Chase got him hooked on the idea of law school and, possibly, falling in love with someone exactly like Lindsay Wagner (before she went all bionic).
History
Updated on Friday, June 23, 2017 6:49 PM CDT: adds Cody Glass info
Updated on Friday, June 23, 2017 11:16 PM CDT: Full write through