VOORHEES, N.J. – The only real way to become a leader in the NHL is to wait your turn.
Entering his sixth year with the Flyers, Joel Farabee believes his time has finally come.
He’s already put together a pretty darn good career. At the wise old age of 24 he’s even helping out some of the youngsters now who are trying to make their mark.
The left wing decided to hang around Philadelphia during the offseason, a sign he’s totally committed to the task at hand.
“I think that just sticking around here in the summer, there are a lot of young guys so I tried to take care of them when they’re here,” Farabee said after Wednesday’s workout at the Flyers Training Center.
“It’s my sixth year now so. . .I think the first couple years in the league you just try and shut up, see what the other guys are doing. Now I feel I’m at a spot where I feel comfortable if I need to say something. Whether it’s to coaches or other players. I guess it just comes with getting older. We have a lot of returners here so it’s just easy for me to play that role.”
If the first preseason game is any indication of the level of Farabee’s condition, all questions were answered. In a 6-2 win at Washington, Farabee had a goal and three assists.
“This camp, specifically, I feel like I am in the best condition of my life,” Farabee said. “I worked pretty hard this summer on conditioning and things like that to get ready.
“We had a young, fast team in that game so I just tried to play it that way.”
Sean Couturier was named captain of the team last year and it’s a sure thing he’s going to rely on veterans such as Farabee to get his message across.
Farabee, who hails from Syracuse, N.Y., was a first-round pick in 2018 (14th overall). He played one year at Boston University before making the Flyers’ roster for good.
Couturier believes Farabee’s career is headed in the right direction.
He was one of only four players on the Flyers to compete in all 82 games last season. His 22 goals were a career high as were his 50 points. He’s already tallied 82 goals/182 points in just 334 NHL games.
“I think every year he seems to be taking a step forward with his growth and maturity,” said Couturier of Farabee. “Especially with him being around here pretty much year-round. He’s been through it since he was 19. I think he’s a good guy to look up to, especially for the young guys.
“I think he makes guys feel comfortable around here.”
A training incident forced him to undergo upper back surgery two summers ago and he was limited to just 15 goals/39 points in 82 games that season. But he came back strong last season.
As a leader, Farabee plays both ends of the rink and serves as a good role model.
“As a team,” Couturier said, “I think that’s how we will grow.”
