The Philadelphia Flyers are committed to Nolan Patrick for the long haul.

Just because the club used their second overall pick on the 6-foot-2 center doesn't necessarily mean he's a lock to make the team out of training camp. That's despite the fact that general manager Ron Hextall said Patrick's 100 percent healthy after undergoing his second abdominal surgery in a year less than two weeks before June's draft, Sam Carchidi of Philly.com reports.

"He's cleared and good to go," Hextall said earlier in the week.

Hextall was up-front with reporters when asked whether he'd be disappointed if Patrick didn't make the Flyers and was sent back to the Brandon Wheat Kings of the Western Hockey League for another year.

"Absolutely not. If he needs time, he needs time," Hextall said. "We're going to have Nolan Patrick for the next 10, 15 years, not one day or one month or two months. We're looking at the next 15 years and what’s best for Nolan Patrick. If it’s best to go back to Brandon, then he'll go back to Brandon. If it's best to stay here, he'll stay here."

Patrick was limited to just 33 games last year with the Wheat Kings, scoring 20 goals and adding 26 assists. Had injuries not been a concern, he very well could have been chosen first overall.

"Again, he's got to come in and prove it. I will not be disappointed if he doesn't make our team. I don't have any expectations on whether he will or he won't. He's got to come in and show us he makes us a better team," Hextall added.

Patrick's first chance at impressing Hextall first-hand will come Sept. 11, when all Flyers rookies will hit the ice.

The most recent second overall pick to not play a single game in their first eligible NHL season was defenseman Ryan Murray, who was selected with the second pick by Columbus in 2012.

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The Arizona Coyotes apparently want to put their awkward split from Shane Doan behind them.

"On behalf of the entire Arizona Coyotes organization, our fans and our corporate partners, we would like to thank Shane for everything that he's done for our franchise over the past 21 years," the club said in a statement following Doan's retirement Wednesday.

"Shane had an incredible career on the ice and we are very proud of everything that he accomplished in a Coyotes uniform," the team added.

"He will be remembered as one of the greatest captains in NHL history. Off the ice, Shane was a great ambassador for growing the game of hockey in Arizona and his contributions to the community are immeasurable. Shane will be a Coyote for life. Thank you, Captain!"

Coyotes owner Andrew Barroway revealed back in mid-June that his club would not be offering its longtime captain a contract for the upcoming season, saying the following at the time:

"The time has come for us to move on and to focus on our young, talented group of players and our very bright future. This was a very difficult decision given what Shane has done for the Coyotes and his unparalleled importance to the organization. With that said, this is necessary to move us forward as a franchise."

Barroway followed that up by insisting that not offering the veteran of 21 seasons a new deal was "the right hockey decision," and Doan responded saying he wasn't expecting the team to let him walk as a free agent, before making it clear that it was the owner's call to move on.

But the Coyotes were in full gratitude mode after the 40-year-old's retirement announcement Wednesday, sharing a video tribute and adding a simple "thank you" message in a follow-up tweet.

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Shane Doan's most prominent fan is wishing him well in retirement.

Auston Matthews replied to an NHL tweet - which shared Doan's decision Wednesday - and reaffirmed the former Arizona Coyotes captain's status as his hero.

Matthews, who grew up in Arizona and became a Coyotes fan at an early age, has previously cited Doan as one of his favorite players, and called him his idol back in June when Doan and the Coyotes parted ways.

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As rumors around his potential departure continue to swirl, John Tavares and the New York Islanders are seemingly no closer to a new contract than they were when the regular season concluded in April.

According to TSN's Darren Dreger, the two sides have yet to even discuss financial specifics for any new potential deal.

While Tavares is New York's captain and the face of the franchise, the cloud of doubt continues to grow over whether he and the Islanders will ever get a contract done.

The 26-year-old center recently stirred the pot of rumors when he said he was in no rush to get an extension signed, and that he was still trying to determine what was best for his future.

Tavares has registered 537 points in 587 career regular-season games for New York, and becomes an unrestricted free agent in July 2018.

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Shane Doan's place in Arizona Coyotes (and original Winnipeg Jets) history is undisputed, but is he worthy of enshrinement in hockey's hallowed hall?

The 40-year-old, who retired Tuesday after a 21-year NHL career spent entirely with the aforementioned franchise, leaves the organization as its all-time leader in goals, assists, points, games played, game-winning goals, and power-play markers.

While his production and longevity were impressive, Doan's place in league lore is a little more debatable. His 402 goals have him tied for 91st on the all-time list, equalling 2017 Hockey Hall of Fame inductee Paul Kariya, but he needed 551 more games.

His 972 points put him 92nd on the all-time list, one behind Hall of Famer Andy Bathgate and seven more than Maurice "Rocket" Richard. But again, Doan required 471 more games than Bathgate and 562 more than the Montreal Canadiens legend.

So given the context, does Doan warrant a plaque alongside the game's most legendary players?

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Longtime Arizona Coyotes captain Shane Doan announced his retirement Wednesday in a farewell letter published in the Arizona Republic.

The two-time All-Star spent his entire 21-year career with the franchise, and finishes as Arizona's all-time leader in games played, goals, assists, and points. Doan and the Coyotes agreed to part ways in June, but it was widely expected the 40-year-old veteran would seek another NHL gig.

Despite coming off his worst offensive season in four years (six goals and 21 assists), Doan had reported interest from multiple clubs to return for the 2017-18 campaign.

The former seventh overall draft pick finishes his career with 402 goals, 570 assists, and 972 points.

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Max Domi is setting a high bar.

The Arizona Coyotes winger will enter his third NHL season this October, and he's aiming for bigger and better things after two years of playoff misses.

"You watch a team like Chicago, and the confidence that a team like that has. They know they're going to win every night. Pittsburgh, same thing," Domi told TSN 1050 on Tuesday. "You go in, you're a little nervous to play against a team like that because of the confidence they walk around with, the swagger they have on the ice, the plays, the preparation they've had.

"That's an elite franchise. We can be that. There's no question about it. We have the personnel to do that. We've just got to find a way to get there."

Domi, 22, saw a step back in his second season, putting up just 38 points after tallying 52 the year prior. But the scoring winger now has some reinforcements on board to help push Arizona's offense, particularly veteran center Derek Stepan, added in a blockbuster deal with the New York Rangers. Highly-touted rookie forward Clayton Keller is also expected to slot into the Coyotes' ranks up front.

As far as other offseason changes in Arizona, the most important may have come behind the bench. Domi sees the addition of head coach Rick Tocchet as a positive, and he's encouraged that his new bench boss will urge the Coyotes' young talent to show its offensive creativity.

"To bring a guy like 'Tocch' in is exciting for a player like myself and the kind of guys we have on our team," Domi told TSN 1040. "He plays a fast game. He's won three Cups himself - two as a coach and one as a player. You can't really ask for more from a coach than that."

Domi and Keller aside, Tocchet will have plenty of young hands to call upon this season, including center Christian Dvorak and wingers Brendan Perlini and Anthony Duclair, among others. It is this core that will be looked to lead Arizona forward, pushing the franchise to join the NHL's elite.

The first step? Qualifying for the postseason, as an absence this spring would mark six-straight playoff misses in the desert.

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