Flyers’ Nolan Patrick sidelined indefinitely with migraine disorder; Carter Hart shines in loss

NEW YORK — Nolan Patrick, the Flyers’ third-line center, has a migraine disorder and will be sidelined indefinitely, general manager Chuck Fletcher announced Thursday.

Patrick has not taken part in training camp, but he has been skating on his own, working out, and watching video of the Flyers’ new system. The 21-year-old will not make the trip to Prague for the Oct. 4 season opener against Chicago.

Fletcher said doctors didn’t believe the headaches were related to the concussion Patrick suffered late last season, causing him to miss the final two games.

“Our medical staff believes with the proper treatment, it’ll be under control,” Flyers coach Alain Vigneault said before Thursday’s exhibition game against the Rangers at Madison Square Garden. “Hopefully, it’ll be sooner rather than later. But, the young man has to get healthy, and I have to deal with the players that are healthy right now, and he’s not one of them."

Officially, Patrick is listed as “week to week.” He was diagnosed after consultation with the Flyers’ medical staff and specialist Dr. Jeffrey Kutcher from the University of Michigan, Fletcher said.

“Some time in the summer, he let us know he was having headaches from time to time,” Fletcher said. "Nolan spent time trying to get to the root of it. I think we feel comfortable now that it’s a migraine issue. It’s not a concussion, according to the doctors. Nolan does have a history of migraines back when he was younger. There’s a family history as well. I think, at this point, he feels relieved to know what it is.”

Patrick was getting “periodic migraines and cluster headaches throughout the summer, and he was concerned, and we were concerned,” said Fletcher, adding doctors feel he can control the situation with medication.

“There were times in the summer he felt great, and times he didn’t feel great. That was the confusing part,” Fletcher said.

Drafted with the No. 2 overall pick in 2017, Patrick scored 13 goals in each of his first two seasons. The Flyers signed Kevin Hayes as the No. 2 center in the offseason, dropping Patrick to third unit and hoping he would get better matchups.

With Patrick out of the lineup, Scott Laughton will be the No. 3 center. Rookie Connor Bunnaman, who has had a strong preseason after scoring 19 goals for the AHL’s Phantoms last year, has a good chance to make the team as its fourth-line center. Down the road, there is a chance Claude Giroux will move from left wing to center.

On Friday, the Flyers will head to Switzerland, where they will play an exhibition game Monday.

Rookie center Morgan Frost, who played well in camp when not hindered by a groin injury, will be sent to the Phantoms in a couple days, Fletcher said, and the plan is for him to be ready for their opener Oct. 5 against Providence.

“I’m a real firm believer of young, skilled players playing in the American League, unless they’re in your top nine,” said Fletcher, echoing former GM Ron Hextall’s philosophy.

Fletcher praised Laughton’s work on the third line and said it “doesn’t make any sense” to play Frost on the Flyers’ fourth line.

The Flyers (1-2-3) ended their preseason against NHL competition with a 2-1 shootout loss to the host Rangers.

Fletcher said all the players in Thursday’s lineup will go to Europe. That means 25 players will probably be taken, and the Flyers will make decisions after Monday’s exhibition. Rosters must be reduced to 23 players by 5 p.m., Tuesday.

Of the players battling for spots, right winger Joel Farabee stood out the most against the Rangers; he had five shots and hit the post twice. Defensemen Phil Myers and Samuel Morin played well. Robert Hagg (seven hits), who is batting Myers for the No. 6 spot on defense, had a strong game.

Afterward, Vigneault said Farabee would probably be in the lineup for the opener.

Carter Hart (31 saves) was outstanding, and he stopped 56 of 57 shots, a .982 save percentage, in the preseason.

In the second period, Kevin Hayes’ pass from a sharp angle bounced off Travis Konecny’s skate and past Henrik Lundqvist to tie it at 1-1.