The Flyers are looking to take the next step this season. Well, they are off to a good start as they are 8-3-2 in 13 games played. Of course, they haven’t played their best game yet, but they sit atop the East standings, and sit atop the league’s best (Until the postponements of games).
A young 20-year-old in Joel Farabee was drafted with electric like playmaking skills. His shot was pitch perfect, and he has made his imprint for such this season, “I think for me, it’s really nice having Moose and Hartsy as our goalies,” Farabee said following a 4-3 overtime victory against the New York Islanders a few weeks ago. “They’re so good in practice, they really challenge us. Tonight, just kind of happened to go in for me.” This was the night he was placed with elite company as he became the second youngest player in Flyers history to tally a hat trick, only to Eric Lindros of course.
“I thought it would be earlier, honestly,” Kevin Hayes said following the game. “It took him a little bit too long. But no, I’m happy for him, he works his bag off in practice and it’s well-deserved. Good job, buddy (Fist bump).”
Farabee, drafted by the Flyers in 2018 at 14th overall. He has seen action with the AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms last season, where he torched his opponents. For the Phantoms, he registered three goals, to go along with one apple in five games played. Not too shabby I must say. Moreover, Farabee 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 will be crucial, as the Flyers would like the youth to take over this role as time goes on.
“He’s a smart player,” Assistant Michel Therrien said of Farabee last season, “We all like him. There’s going to be some experience during those four games that we’re going to play. Joel’s a smart player even if he’s young. His hockey IQ is right there. He needs some experience, obviously. He’s such a young player, but as a coaching staff, we really like the way he’s thinking about the game, his positioning, way he sees the game. Definitely, he’s going to have a really good chance.”
What Farabee brings is skating. Farabee can skate at top speed to push the play up the ice. Moreover, Farabee is an excellent skater, with the agility and edge work to get by defenders in one-on-one situations, and he has 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. Farabee remains focused and poised at killing penalties, and has a keen good hockey sense.
Farabee, has a great work ethic and just wants to get better. He has proven he will not enter a sophmore slump as he has tallied six goals, and six assists on the young season thus far in just 13 games played. The sky is the limit for this young player, and he will only get better in time.
