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Nolan Patrick excited to likely play for Flyers or Devils

Center Nolan Patrick is excited to become a member of the Flyers or New Jersey Devils.

Center Nolan Patrick is excited to become a member of the Flyers or New Jersey Devils.

In a radio interview on Sirius XM Hockey on Monday, Patrick said he would be "honored to go anywhere" in the NHL draft.

But because New Jersey and the Flyers each moved up in the draft lottery and will pick No.1 and No. 2, respectively, there's a strong chance Patrick will be selected by one of those two Metropolitan Division rivals.

The 6-foot-2, 198-pound Patrick was asked if he envisioned playing for one of those teams.

"I thought about it a bit and I've got buddies who play for the Devils and Flyers," he said, referring to New Jersey's John Quenneville and Philadelphia's Ivan Provorov. "I've exchanged text messages with them and we all agree it would be fun to get back together."

The three were teammates with Brandon in the Western Hockey League.

Patrick had sports-hernia surgery last July and two separate injuries during the recently completed season.

He said he was now "100 percent healthy" and that he was "confident I can play a full season without getting injured."

Patrick and center Nico Hischier, who starred for Halifax in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, are the consensus top players in the draft, which will be held in Chicago on June 23 and 24.

In 163 career games in the WHL, Patrick has 205 points, including 92 goals.

Hischier, a Switzerland native, had 38 goals and 86 points in 57 games in the QMJHL this season, his only year in the league.

Both players are good enough to play in the NHL in 2017-18, some scouts say.