Nolan Patrick of Flyers 'excited' to be back on ice next week

VOORHEES, N.J. -- Philadelphia Flyers center Nolan Patrick will return to the ice next week, the next step in his recovery from abdominal surgery June 13.
The recovery will keep Patrick, the No. 2 pick of the 2017 NHL Draft, off the ice during development camp, which began Friday and runs through Wednesday.

"This will be the first time in a while that I will be completely healthy," Patrick said. "My injury was bugging me all season. … I'll be back on the ice next week and I'm excited."
Patrick's surgery was related to the sports hernia injuries that limited him to 35 games with Brandon of the Western Hockey League last season. He had surgery a year ago to fix one on his left side he sustained during the 2016 WHL playoffs, but failed to remove one on his right side.
A pre-draft visit to Flyers doctors June 9 diagnosed the sports hernia on the right side, and Patrick had surgery four days later in Philadelphia.

Patrick, 18, said having the procedure done quickly helped make sure he'd lose as little time as possible in his summer workouts.
"If I waited any longer it would take two weeks off my training," he said. "… When the doctor told me, 'It needs to be done,' I told him, 'OK, I'll get it done right away, when can we do it?' He said, 'Go home [to Winnipeg] for a couple days and come back.' I went home on a Friday, came back on a Monday and had it Tuesday morning. I'm feeling great, really happy I got it done."
Despite not being able to take part in any of the on-ice drills, Patrick said he's getting a professional-level off-ice education.
"I've been watching some film they were showing us this morning and drills to do," he said. "I was watching the drills today. It's something I can take back and do some of them at home with my skills coach and things I can do here. There's a lot to learn, and I'm going to learn as much as I can. I'd like to take part in the on-ice stuff, but it is what it is."

Flyers general manager Ron Hextall said learning how to be a professional off the ice is more important for Patrick this week than any of the on-ice activities.
"It's his first exposure to the NHL so this is good for him to watch, be around and talk to some of the guys that have been to a couple development camps and observe," Hextall said. "The development coaches with the video and stuff, he'll learn a lot. We'd like him to be on the ice and fully participating, but he'll be getting a good feel for things."
Patrick (6-foot-2, 198 pounds) said once he gets back on the ice, his offseason goals are to get stronger and work on his skating. He also said he he would consider a shift to wing. The Flyers' top four centers from last season, Claude Giroux, Valtteri Filppula, Sean Couturier and Mike Vecchione, each are returning this season. Veteran forward Jori Lehtera, acquired in a trade with the St. Louis Blues on June 23, also can play center.
"I played one period on the wing in my whole career, but if they wanted to put me on the wing I'd be fine with that," Patrick said. "I'm not going to complain as a rookie if I made the team. I think I can adjust to that. Whatever they wanted, I'll be happy with that."

How did that one period go on the wing?
"I got moved to center right after," he said.
Regardless of where he plays, Patrick said his goal is to be in the NHL this season.
"Every kid growing up wants to play in the NHL and that's been my goal since I was super young," he said. "I don't set too many goals for myself, but three years ago I wanted to play in the NHL my first year eligible so that's what I'm trying to do."