June 22, 2018
With the 14th overall pick in the 2018 NHL Draft, the Philadelphia selected forward Joel Farabee, an 18-year-old winger from New York who will play for Boston University next season.
"It's awesome. I really dont even have any words right now — I am soaking it in," Farabee said on the NBCSN broadcast immediately after he was taken by the Flyers. "I am honored to be a part of this organization.
But first, Farabee has some work to do. Luckily, he's headed to the right place.
"I need to definitely put on some weight and work on playing a bigger role along with the weight," he continued. "I will definitely do that at college."
Here's what we know about the newest member of the Flyers organization.
Position: LW
Height: 6-0
Weight: 162
Shoots: Left
Date of birth: February 25, 2000
Experience: U.S. Under-18 National Team (committed to Boston University)
Hometown: Cicero, NY
Farabee, 6-foot, 162 pounds, heading to BU in the fall. Flyers could sure use a scoring winger. First time they’ve taken one in the first round since James van Riemsdyk.
— Dave Isaac (@davegisaac) June 23, 2018
But, most importantly, he's an Eagles fan...
Farabee's dad is from Philly area, so he's already a Philly fan.
— Charlie O'Connor (@charlieo_conn) June 23, 2018
Farabee said he wanted to go to the Flyers because his dad grew up in the Philly area.
— Sam Carchidi (@BroadStBull) June 23, 2018
Game Day!! #FlyEaglesFly
— Joel Farabee (@FarabeeJoel) February 4, 2018
So what do we get in Farabee now? We have a player who is one of the best skaters in the draft and uses that to create offense. He uses his speed to burn past defenders and then he uses his pro shot in a variety of ways. He is surprisingly effective around the net for someone of his stature. His fearlessness and work ethic make him a load to handle in the offensive zone.
What sets Farabee apart is how effective he is defensively. He uses his smarts to put himself in position to intercept passes and break up plays. Once he gets the puck on his stick, he’s excellent at transition offense. He’s one of the best 200-foot players at the top of the draft.
Questions with Farabee start with his size. He’s just 5-foot-11 and not even 170 pounds. In grind it out games, he can be pushed off pucks. He doesn’t bring much of a physical presence. Can he find a way to play among bigger and faster players at the next level? [thehockeywriters.com]
Farabee is an cerebral three-zone playmaker who consistently adheres to textbook fundamentals in addition to being one of the most lethal scorers in his draft class. He can tailor his style to fit any game — wide open, slogging matches, physical…it simply does not matter. Farabee is a top-line winger for the NTDP and he plays that role in every situation no matter the score or time on the clock. He’s very quick in open ice and possesses a devastating change of pace that catches defenders flat footed, and he’ll use a rapier-like inside shift inside if taking the puck wide isn’t the preferred route. One thing you notice instantly is his work ethic on the ice — Farabee has a nonstop motor and will bust it from start to finish on every shift. He’s a wiry kid, but his balance is stromng and he can endure a physical beating, plus ward off thicker defenders as he bulls his way to the cage. Even at 17-years-old, Farabee already own a pro-quality shot for its accuracy, velocity and release. Compounding matters for opposing goalies is that he’s as proficient with his backhand as he is on the forehand. Easily one of the top forwards among his draft-eligible peers and a kid with star potential. [thedraftanalyst.com]
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