Nagle Takes The Road Less Traveled To Rediscover, Revive Pro Career

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The premature shutdown of the AHL, and the world, found millions without jobs and answers. Grand Rapids Griffins goaltender, Pat Nagle, was no exception. Not only was the playoff push cut short, but his would-be final season with the Detroit Red Wings organization was quickly truncated as well.

“It was a tough way to have the season end. We had just started playing well and getting everyone back healthy…” Nagle told InsideAHLHockey.com in a virtual interview.

Nagle had an already hectic 2019-20 season. With the birth of his first child, learning to be a dad on the road, re-assignment, and moving to Grand Rapids, as well as a pandemic - all within a few short months.

The season consisted of “Plenty of sleepless nights and added stress I had never experienced before…” he said. Fortunately for him, he was re-signed by the organization just after the season cancellation, allowing for a little breathing room for the rest of the summer.

Looking Back to Move Ahead

Signed originally to the Tampa Bay Lightning following his collegiate career, Nagle has already had the opportunity to work under Steve Yzerman and understand his demands for a team and player. Looking back to those years, Nagle admitted that this new contract amidst so much chaos, shouldn’t be taken for granted.

"(The) biggest thing for me now that [Yzerman] has joined the Red Wings is that he has given me a second chance. I struggled my first couple of seasons pro and was not re-signed by the Lightning. At the time I didn't know what it meant to be a good pro. I had to learn the hard way, which in turn has allowed me to grow as a person and a player. I needed to improve my on and off ice habits in order to continue to play pro hockey.”

Learn he did. Pat Nagle finished his 2019-20 season with a 2.32 GAA in 20-games - his best AHL performance of his career. His development and confidence can’t solely be attributed to Yzerman’s early leadership. Nagle has been the primary netminder for the ECHL’s Toledo Walleye - primary ECHL affiliate to the Red Wings - since the 2017-18 season.

“I think I have really benefited from all of the time I have spent in Toledo…” Nagle said of his time with the ECHL team, “I was able to get a fresh start a few seasons ago and have really enjoyed working my way through the system.”

At 32-years old, many would write off a veteran of the ECHL let alone give him a chance to start at the AHL level. Channeling the garnered experience in his long-tenured career, Nagle solidified his worth in Grand Rapids as he finally found his stride.

A Tough Market

The Griffins ended the season on a high note with a decisive win over the Iowa Wild. Despite the pleasant finish, several players, Nagle included, found themselves staring free agency in the face much sooner than expected. The Griffins alone, have 13 players expected to hit the free-agent market this summer.

Unlike his counterparts, Nagle didn’t have time on his side, “Each season you enter a year older and that’s not always perceived as a good thing,” he said, “Each season you need to improve and continue to be successful or else there are plenty of other players looking to take your contract.”

Promising prospect Filip Larsson would be one of those players hoping to make a push for his contract. Along with Calvin Pickard, who is committed through 2020-21, and Victor Brattstrom who is hoping to move to the AHL in the next two seasons, Nagle had stiff competition.

The free agency market also could have found Nagle on the backburner entirely had Detroit decided to move ahead with a trade or simply not renew his contract.

With the renewal, however, Nagle is among the chosen to have a bit of security in a summer of unknowns.

“This summer will be an interesting one as there is a lot of uncertainty,” he reflected during our interview.

Though he did not say there were any COVID-19 related clauses in the new contract, it mattered little to the goaltender. He’s just anxious for the day play can resume.

But when would that be? Given all this uncertainty, surely training, development, and even communication from the team have been altered.

The New Face of Player Management

Many things had to change to adapt to the ever-changing landscape of 2020 as a whole. The personal training and practices being eliminated early forced the players to adapt to home workouts and outdoor skating drills. Though not completely foreign to any of it, players became almost 100% responsible for their development.

Around the leagues, communication was moved to phone and zoom calls, coaching and workouts were distributed virtually by the staff, and player development took on a more creative approach.

The culture of the Red Wings organization had already established good lines of communication between the leagues and players to make this transition a little simpler.

“Detroit does a very nice job of communicating with all of the players in the organization,” Nagle stated, “Detroit had given us workouts to keep our bodies moving and our minds. We would check in with some of the staff periodically via Zoom calls which were nice.”

New Beginnings

The premature end to the 2019-20 season left many players with questions as to their futures. Playoff dreams were cut short, contracts consequently cut short and free agency hanging over their heads. Griffins goaltender, Pat Nagle, is one of the few to have the solace going into the early offseason of a new contract.

Nagle is approaching the summer with a refreshing combination between hindsight and hope for the future. He’s adapted and learned to appreciate the time given and do what is within his power too during these tough times. Knowing he and the rest of the team have the support of the fans, he looks to return to 2020-21 refreshed, stronger, and ready for another playoff push.

Until that day comes, Pat says, “Thank you so much for all of the support. The amount of nice messages I have received throughout the season has been incredible and they do not go unnoticed. I am really looking forward to next season and hoping to get things started as soon as possible, as I know you all are!”