A former second overall pick with the Canadiens? A very intriguing gamble could happen with Nolan Patrick
Since taking over as general manager, Kent Hughes has made it clear that he intends to give a second chance to young talented players who have not yet reached their full potential.
This strategy has been evident in trades involving Kirby Dach and Alex Newhook, as well as the signing of Swedish forward Lias Andersson. The approach is simple: acquire players with intriguing potential at a reasonable cost, with the hope that they will develop well with the Canadiens.
In this context, a former second overall pick is available for free and could represent a low-risk gamble for the organization. That player is Nolan Patrick, who ultimately did not receive a qualifying offer from the Vegas Golden Knights.
Could Kent Hughes be tempted to offer him a one-year contract at the minimum salary, allowing the 24-year-old forward to join the Laval Rocket and potentially the Canadiens if he performs well in the AHL?
Nolan Patrick had impressive junior performances, collecting 148 points in 105 games in the WHL at 16 and 17 years old. He also reached the 30-point mark in each of his first two seasons in the NHL.
However, numerous injuries have significantly hindered his progress over the past three years, and he has only played 77 games since the 2020-2021 season.
Nevertheless, there is no doubt that he possesses immense talent. At the time, many experts considered him the top player in the 2017 draft class.
In your opinion, should the Canadiens offer him a one-year contract in the hope that he regains his confidence and offensive touch in the American Hockey League (AHL)?
Source: Habs&LNH
| POLL | ||
Would you like Kent Hughes to offer Nolan Patrick a one-year contract (minimum salary)? | ||
| Yes | 89 | 63.6 % |
| No | 51 | 36.4 % |
| List of polls | ||
