Nolan Patrick, who could be the first overall pick in the 2017 NHL Draft, has undergone sports hernia surgery, which will keep him from participating in Canada’s world junior development camp at the end of the month.
Patrick’s WHL team, the Brandon Wheat Kings, made the announcement on Sunday. They added that the surgery was a success and Patrick will still attend the camp.
At the age of 17, Patrick had astounding numbers in junior this past season. He scored 41 goals and 102 points in 72 games (1.41 points per game) with the Wheat Kings during the regular season and then followed that up by being named the WHL’s Most Valuable Player for the post-season, with 30 points in 21 games.
The Wheat Kings made it to the Memorial Cup tournament.
While Patrick hit the 100-point plateau, his points-per-game rate from last season falls just shy of what Connor McDavid -- another No. 1 overall pick -- accomplished in the season before his draft year, when he had 1.76 points per game with the OHL’s Erie Otters.