When the Flyers selected winger Joel Farabee with the 14th overall pick in the first round back in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, they knew they had possibly just landed someone special. However, although extremely talented, this two-way forward (who was just 18 years old and a native of New York) only weighed in at 163 pounds at the time he was selected. So, one would think he would have taken some time to develop before he could reach the ranks of the NHL, right? Wrong!
After being selected from the United States National Team Development Program (U.S.N.D.T.P.) at the end of the 2017-2018 season, Joel took his talents to Boston University. Once there, it did not take long for Farabee to adjust. In just his freshman season Joel was able to achieve a near point-per-game average, recording 17 goals and19 assists, for 36 points in just 37 games played (GP).
The young Farabee had an astonishing rookie season in the colligate ranks as it was quite apparent that there was no need for an encore- or sophomore season with the Terriers, so Farabee turned pro. After an impressive camp last season with the Flyers, Joel was sent to the team’s American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate the Lehigh Valley Phantoms to continue his development. Once there though, it became quite evident that Joel’s skill far exceeded the likes of the players around him: Posting 3 goals and 1 assist for 4 points in just 5 games played. That was all it took for the Flyers’ brass to see that this young prospect need not be a prospect anymore! Farabee was then called up to the Flyers where he was able to play in 52 games in Philadelphia before the season’s shutdown occurred due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During the regular season with the Flyers Farabee was able to post some mediocre numbers with 8 goals, 13 assists and 21 points during his rookie campaign. These numbers- while not bad- could have been better. One thing above all others that really inhibited Joel from achieving greater statistics was his size, even though the talent was most certainly there. In board battles Joel seemed to be brushed off the puck very easily last season (like an older brother might do to a younger sibling, who was just a bother to him): Opposing players treated Farabee like a pest- just swatting him away so that they could get the puck without any further trouble. Last season you could also see Joel making abrupt decisions with the puck because he feared the oncoming pressure from the opposition and did not want to turn it over, when instead he should have held onto it longer in order to let the play develop further. In his rookie campaign he acted honorably when a line mate had received a cheap shot from an opponent by responding with a willingness to stand up and fight for the honor of his fellow teammate. Unfortunately, Farabee was on more than one occasion bludgeoned by the other combatant for his endeavors.
When the season ended after the playoffs, Joel took time to reflect and realized if he wanted to really excel in this league, he was going to need to hit the gym and put on some much-needed muscle. By the time training camp came around just a few short weeks ago it was apparent that hitting the gym is exactly what Joel did. Walking through the doors of the Flyers’ practice facility in Voorhees, NJ it was not the same boy whose clothes seemed to be wearing him anymore; Instead, there stood a man who now filled out to the weight of 185 pounds. While this significant change in appearance was impressive for sure (especially for just one off-season’s worth of work), where it really seemed to come must handy is on the ice. Early on in camp, Farabee’s newfound size seemed to come with a refined sense of confidence to his game, one that he had while playing before he was drafted and while he attended Boston University. He is no longer easily shoved out of the play or in a rush to get rid of the puck. Instead, Farabee can truly battle along the boards, fighting off the advances of a wanna-be puck-thieving defenseman as he makes his way behind the crease in the offense zone. Farabee must have been studying film of his now-line mate Claude Giroux as well this off season because Joel suddenly has extreme patience with the puck in his possession and is showing a willingness to slow the play down when none exist and wait for a teammate to get open so that he can then throw a precision pass right to their awaiting stick blade.
Through three games played thus far, Joel has shown that he can produce at a high level- scoring four points in the first game. While this kind of production has already began to level out, Joel seems to be more comfortable in his role with the team this season. So much so that he has been rewarded by playing with two of the team’s best players: The previously mentioned Claude Giroux and a fan-favorite center named Kevin Hayes. Now, whether it be his new line mates, his newfound size, or the fresh new jersey number that Joel is donning this year that has him playing with a heightened sense of confidence (or a combination of all three), this writer does not know or care as long as his play continues in this manner. With that being said, the now 20-year-old Farabee is set to have a breakout year this season, one that should see him come close to doubling his totals from last year- even during a shortened season! These may seem like lofty goals for such a young player, but they are goals that Farabee very well could achieve and should indeed strive for this season. Will he be able to do just that? That is a question we will have to wait and find out, but what is for certain is this writer will be tuning in to any and all things Flyers now that they have seemed to return to us for good!
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