Philadelphia Flyers: 5 biggest questions for the 2020-21 season
The Philadelphia Flyers have to see where Nolan Patrick & Oskar Lindblom are at
Two of the biggest injury concerns for the Philadelphia Flyers in 2021 are Nolan Patrick and Oskar Lindblom.
Lindblom was one of the NHL’s feel-good stories of 2020 after starting the season off hot, scoring 11 goals in his first 30 games. That success was put on hold when he was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma, a form of bone cancer. After completing cancer treatment, he was cleared to return in the playoffs and appeared in two games.
Philadelphia rewarded Lindblom in July with a three-year $9 million contract extension.
Entering the 2021 season, Lindblom appears good to go after his recent bone scans came back clean, according to Vigneault. The Flyers will closely monitor Lindblom and protect him when needed, but he should be set this season to be a member of either the second or third line.
The biggest injury concern is Nolan Patrick, who missed the entire 2019-20 season and hasn’t played a game since April 2019 due to chronic migraines. It sounds like the former second overall pick is headed in the right direction, which is the most important thing in this situation. Any kind of brain issue needs to be taken seriously, and Patrick has been through a lot trying to sort through the condition.
There’s been a lot put on Patrick since he slipped on a Flyers jersey for the first time at the 2017 NHL Draft. The Flyers lucked out in the NHL Draft lottery and were set to take either Patrick or Nico Hischier, depending on who the New Jersey Devils took with the top pick.
Patrick has put up 61 points in his first two seasons, scoring 13 goals in each, but he hasn’t been the offensive force fans hoped for out of a number two overall pick. Perhaps those dreams were unfairly dreamt, or maybe Patrick will be a late bloomer like Sean Couturier, who went eight seasons before having more than 40 points for the orange and black.
If Patrick is healthy, he’s set to be on the Flyers fourth line or taxi squad in 2021. The team may alternate him in and out of the lineup as needed, but a healthy Patrick is a great sign for the Flyers.