Nolan Patrick, the projected top pick in the 2017 NHL Draft, has undergone successful sports hernia surgery and will miss Canada’s National Junior Development Camp later this month.

Patrick, named the WHL Playoffs’ most valuable player in May, is expected to be ready for the start of Wheat Kings’ training camp at the end of August.

Dr. Robinson, at Grace Hospital in Winnipeg, performed the surgery.

Patrick is first in Future Considerations’ preliminary ranking for the 2017 draft.

“He’s the guy to beat right now,” said Future Considerations scout Justin Froese. “Patrick has been tearing up the WHL while playing a Ryan Getzlaf-type of game. He’s big, driven and a highly intelligent passer and raises his level of play to take over games.”

Patrick was named WHL rookie of the year in 2014-15, and had 41 goals and 102 points in 72 regular season games for Brandon in 2015-16. He added 13 goals and 30 points in 21 games en route to helping the Wheat Kings to the Ed Chynoweth Cup as WHL champions.

He has 70 goals and 159 points in 130 career regular season games.