Former Flyers forward Nolan Patrick says he’s not retired

Nolan Patrick goes top shelf for OT winner

Former Philadelphia Flyers forward Nolan Patrick has addressed rumors about his retirement from the NHL, saying he has not hung up his skates.

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said he had contacted Patrick. Although the player did not want to discuss his status, he confirmed that he had not officially retired.

The clarification came amid rumors about Patrick’s retirement at the age of 25 due to persistent injuries that have prevented him from reaching his fullest ability on the ice.

An Instagram post by The Power Play, a hockey coaching and mentorship program, said that Patrick was a former player. He was described in the post as a “retired pro with significant NHL experience.” The post was later revised, referring to Patrick as a “4x NHL Pro.”

Patrick began his professional hockey career when the Philadelphia Flyers selected him as the second overall pick in 2017. Before joining the NHL, Patrick had displayed his abilities in the WHL, where he earned titles like Rookie of the Year and Playoff MVP.

Patrick’s journey in the NHL has been hampered by injuries. The son of former NHL winger Steve Patrick notably struggles with migraines. Throughout his NHL career, Patrick scored 32 goals, 45 assists and 77 points in 222 games.

His most recent appearance was in a game with the Vegas Golden Knights in March 2022. Patrick received a Stanley Cup ring with Vegas even though he was unable to play in the 2022–2023 season. After the season, he became a free agent as he failed to secure a contract offer.

Patrick’s migraine issues

In September 2019, the Philadephia Flyers announced that Patrick had been diagnosed with a migraine disorder. According to general manager Chuck Fletcher, the condition was believed to be unrelated to hockey, and the player’s migraine history runs in the family. Patrick has declined to discuss his health issue with the media on multiple occasions.

“I’m not going to get into too much detail on how my head feels,” said Patrick when he returned to the ice in 2021. “I’m going to see how camp goes and go from there.”