Photo Credit: Katelynn Reiss
On Friday, April 1st, I had the chance to sit down with Joel Farabee and talk about his career along with a few other things. I took questions from Twitter, which will be featured in all three parts of this three-part story. I’m choosing to release the interview in three parts because Joel gave long and thoughtful answers to all of my (and your) questions. To all the Flyers fans reading this, we here at FNG would never be able to do this without you, you guys are really the best fans in hockey. Now, let’s get right into it.
Q: Joel, can you take me through your transition to center? Whose idea was it, what was your initial reaction, and do you think you stick as a center long term?
A: Yeah so I think it just happened with obviously Brass (Brassard) getting picked up right at the end of the deadline there so you know going on the road trip I think we had three centers, natural centers. So coach came up to me and asked if I’d ever played and I said I played it a little bit, but you know I’m always up for a challenge I would say. I really like the position, honestly, so I feel like you’re really involved in the game right away. I think there’s a lot more opportunity to touch the puck and things like that being a center. Definitely some things, you know, I gotta work on with it. Probably faceoffs and stuff like that gotta keep getting better at but so far I really like it. I don’t know if it’s something I’ll do long-term but I think just having that in the back of my head to be able to do it is a good thing.
Q: Kevin Hayes has been through a brutal stretch over the last nine months or so, but he is playing some of his best hockey of the season right now. Does he look like he’s back to himself again?
A: Yeah for sure. I think just when he came back the first time you could see right away he wasn’t himself. I thought since he’s been back this time, however long it’s been he’s looked great and I played with him for a little bit in the stretch. He’s a great player on this team when he’s 100%. He’s a guy that’s definitely trusted and looked [at] to provide for this team. When he’s playing his best hockey, he’s doing all that.
Q: Despite being young, you’re one of the top guys on this roster and have been in the organization for a few years now. Because of that, do you feel any added pressure to perform?
A: No, not necessarily. I think it’s more the opposite honestly. I feel a lot more comfortable than I did, probably my first two years. I think just being here, this is my third year here now. I don’t know how many games I played total but just having that comfortability of the game now. I think I’m not really nervous going into games, I’m not thinking too much. I’m just going out there and playing and I feel like when I do that I play my best hockey.
Q: If you weren’t an NHL’er, what would you be doing?
A: Oh, that’s a good one. Oof. Honestly, if I wasn’t playing in the NHL, I’d probably be back home, working just a blue-collar job like that. If I had to pick I’d love to be a golfer or be outdoors. I love being outside in the summer.
Q: Do you prefer wing or center?
A: Yeah, I’m probably not gonna pick a favorite right now. I really like both honestly, I feel pretty comfortable in both. For me, I think it’s just whatever the team needs that night is what I’ll do.
Q: What’s your go-to coffee order?
A: Coffee, usually just iced coffee with almond milk. Pretty simple.
