"I'm cleared for full testing," Patrick said. "Good news. I'm feeling close to 100 percent. I'm going to give it all a go and it should be fun."
Patrick had 46 points (20 goals, 26 assists), and his average of 1.39 points per game was 10th in the Western Hockey League, but he was limited to 33 games this season. He had surgery for a sports hernia in July and was ready to start the season but left the lineup after five games because of an upper-body injury. He missed 35 games and returned Jan. 13. He also missed Brandon's four-game loss to Medicine Hat in the first round of the Western Hockey League playoffs with a lower-body injury.
Despite his injuries, Patrick won the Canadian Hockey League top professional prospect award and is the No. 1-rated skater on NHL Central Scouting's final ranking of North American skaters.
Last season Patrick was fifth in the WHL with 102 points (41 goals, 61 assists) and was named most valuable player of the WHL playoffs after tying for the league lead with 30 points (13 goals, 17 assists) in 21 games.
The New Jersey Devils have the No. 1 pick in the 2017 NHL Draft and interviewed Patrick on Monday. Devils scouting director Paul Castron said Patrick's injuries this season wouldn't preclude them from selecting him.
