Flyers’ Joel Farabee handles benching with class: “Once I figured out I wasn’t playing the rest of the game all I tried to do was be a good teammate on the bench”

Photo Credit: Katelynn Reiss

Joel Farabee’s 2022-23 season can be described as up and down, marred by frustrations due to recovery from an injury. Farabee was unable to train properly, as he normally would do to restrictions while recovering from surgery. However, what is quite unique about the young Farabee is he takes accountability for his play last season, “No excuses I got to play better,” Farabee said following scrimmages a few weeks ago. “I think for me I always put pressure on myself. I think everyone feels pretty good heading into the season.”

Farabee continues, “I honestly felt really good with my body and things like that.” For his efforts, Farabee has returned to his old form, and the Flyers are trying to remain in the playoffs hunt. Yes, it’s early to start talking about the playoffs, but this Flyers team gave somewhat exceeded expectations made by most pundits before the season began.

The young Farabee was benched on Thursday night after just playing two shifts, totaling :56 minutes of ice time. Farabee did not legged out the first New Jersey goal, while not giving maximum effort to back check. Flyers’ Head Coach John Tortorella said that he “Didn’t listen” following the game, insuiating that he has discussed giving max effort previously with the club before this recent incident took place.

One thing should do is give Joel Farabee kudos for handling this benching with class. He could of threw his hands in the air, pouted, or just remained mad. However, Farabee sat on the bench cheering on his teammates and comforted them when they made good plays, “Once I figured out I wasn’t playing the rest of the game all I tried to do was be a good teammate on the bench, support my friends and teammates. I thought they did a great job battling a forward short with Garney getting thrown out,” Farabee said at morning skate today.

He finished the 2022-23 season with 15 goals and 24 assists, but there was a sense of frustrations at times after a dry spell of points. This type of season was to be expected after having major summer surgery on his neck in the Summer. However, Farabee is a perfectionist and he knows his craft well, so when he can’t perform at a level he knows he can play at, a sense of frustrations obviously ensued.

Through all of this, what Farabee has proven to the fans of Philadelphia is that the Flyers should build around him. Drafted by the Flyers in 2018 at 14th overall, Farabee has seen action with the AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms and the big club, where he torched his opponents.

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Farabee’s style of play resonates with Philadelphia and Flyers fans in particular. He plays a 200 foot game, and is just so darn good at killing penalties. It becomes very attractive to stay up with the big club for good, based off those reasons alone. Killing penalties is a crucial attribute to have, and Farabee does it well.

What Farabee also brings is skating, and typically you know if he is a confident player with the way he skates. Farabee can skate at top speeds to push the play up the ice. He’s proven time and time again he is an excellent skater, with the agility and edge work to get by defenders in one-on-one situations, and he also possesses a great first step. Farabee is an outstanding playmaker off the wing, who possesses great vision of the ice. He is also a good defender, as Farabee remains focused and poised at killing penalties.

It’s clear the Flyers need him, and I think he will be just fine. He has learned from this, and he will put this recent incident in the rear view mirror.