An upper-body injury has restricted Nolan Patrick to just six games in the Western Hockey League season, and now the potential No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 NHL Draft will miss the upcoming Canada-Russia series, per NHL.com.
In those six games with the Brandon Wheat Kings, the 18-year-old Patrick has four goals and nine points, however he’s been out of the lineup for almost a month, with his last game back on Oct. 11.
Minus Patrick, the WHL select team will face Russia on Monday and Tuesday.
Russia will play six games against WHL, OHL and QMJHL select teams, from Nov. 7-17.
After 41 goals and 102 points last season, Patrick began the 2016-17 campaign as the top prospect for next year’s draft, headlining Central Scouting’s list of players to watch.
It’s been a difficult few months for the young center due to injury.
In the summer, Patrick underwent sports hernia surgery, which kept him out of Team Canada’s world junior summer development camp.