C Nolan Patrick - Brandon Wheat Kings, WHL (2017 Draft)
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Are you saying Patrick has a mean streak? Because I haven't seen one. He's definitely not soft - but I wouldn't describe him as someone who plays with an edge, either.
The top of the drafts keep getting tighter every year and this year Patrick IMO hasn't don't enough to be considered the unanimous 1OA so far. Although he currently is the top prospect. Funny how another guy who missed the draft by like 4 days.
I'd classify him more in the Toews level of tenacious , than I would in the Getzlaf class of mean. Still a great prospect.
He's up there just not as many blatant fights. But he'll get involved post-whistle if anything happens. He's not scared to get stick up for his team mates is kind of what I'm getting at.
I think he'll fight more in the NHL than he will in the W.
Getzlaf has always been very blatant with his stick work. I know he led the league in stick infractions a couple times. I'd say Patrick is hard working, tenacious and willing to stick up for himself and teammates. Getzlaf is just outright mean (for example see him rag dolling McCann last year because he can). The thing is, very few skilled centers even attempt to play the game that way. In regards to #1 centers, Getzlaf is probably at the top of the totem poll in regards to this stuff. Most kids these days just don't play the game that way for a variety of reasons (its been coached out of the game, etc).
Patrick can play on that edge though. I saw him live twice this season before the he got injured and many times last year. He'll play on that edge quite a bit. I've seen him pull some borderline dirty stuff and he usually gets away with it. One thing he does a lot is go hard at goalies. Kid is unforgiving to netminders. He wants to score and goalies glove on a puck won't stop him from doing so.
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Let's Go Hawks!
I said he doesn't play soft. But you responded sarcastically to 95 commenting Patrick didn't play with a 'mean streak' and I think 95 is correct.
He's not really in the middle either though. He definitely plays with an edge.
Plays like this aren't to uncommon in his game. He won't take any ****. He may not fight to often about it but he isn't scared to crosscheck a kid across the back or give him a slash on the back of the leg. I've seen it numerous times.
There's just no youtube vids on anything but highlights that I can show you that aren't considered illegal.
Being 'soft' or 'mean' is about playing style, not about how effective you are as a player. Why do fans confuse the two so much?
JackSlater
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- Apr 27, 2010
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No one has called him soft in the last few days, and yet you keep posting that he isn't soft. The guy has a combined 60 PIM in his two full WHL seasons. He isn't a mean player, which is not the same thing as saying that he is soft. Looks like quite a good two way centre in the Toews mold (as others have said) which is quite impressive. Certainly hope that he can return soon.
DudeWhereIsMakar
Bergevin sent me an offer sheet
BoDacious Horvat
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I don't think one injury (or one injury then what appears to be a complication from the first injury) means a player is injury prone. Even if he misses the whole year, I'd classify it as a one-off situation like Rielly and Galchenyuk.
People keep comparing him to Toews. They really don't share many similarities. Aside from both of them being from Manitoba. Patrick plays a very different style of game.
landy92mack29
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I agree Toews isn't a perfect comparable but they do have some similarities. Both are elite 2-way centers and born leaders. Toews also isn't afraid of the physical stuff. For me there is no perfect Patrick comparable but a Toews/Getzlaf hybrid is fairly close imo
I've also brought up a center version of Benn. All around game but slanted more heavily to the offensive side.
JackSlater
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- Apr 27, 2010
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I will defer to your assessment, as I was just looking at it on a very basic level (two way centres). am interested in how Patrick turns out because high end two way centres at the junior level are not very common.
Starting to wonder if he will go #1? hasn't he played what? 6 games got to wonder about his durability
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