Nolan Patrick will be out there with something to prove.

Patrick, who will captain Team Cherry in Monday's CHL Top Prospects Game in Quebec City, entered this season as the likely first overall pick at the 2017 NHL Draft, but was forced out of action early on as a result of a groin injury. He has recorded four goals and four assists in five games since returning to the WHL's Brandon Wheat Kings, and will use the showcase to further assert himself as the the most viable first pick.

"Maybe this game is important to me in order to show I'm back at full speed," Patrick told Mike Morreale of NHL.com. "You never want to be injured and out 35 games, but I'm feeling good, feeling 100 percent and feel as though I'm starting to get back into the swing of things."

At least one pro scout believes the injury has given teams at least some reason for pause.

"There's no franchise-type player in this draft and even the No. 1 consensus pick, Nolan Patrick, had the injury factor so there are still questions," Dallas Stars director of amateur scouting Joe McDonnell told Morreale. "That said, Patrick is a big, strong center and can skate well. It's just a matter of his development and getting more experience and strength. But he has all the pro attributes that you're looking for."

Altogether, Patrick has scored 80 goals and added 96 assists in 141 junior games, winning WHL rookie of the year and WHL playoffs MVP along the way.

Center Nico Hischier made up some ground in the top pick discussion with a strong showing at the World Juniors, but Patrick certainly won't move down the draft board without a fight.

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