PHILADELPHIA – Two native Flyers returned to the place where it all began on Tuesday night and it was as good a time as any to reminisce.
Joel Farabee and Morgan Frost, traded to Calgary back at the beginning of last month, played their former team at the Wells Fargo Center and while it was a bit odd to see them in Flames uniforms, there seemed to be good vibes all around.
On Monday night, both players visited the home of former Flyers teammate Owen Tippett to see old teammates and it was time for stories and laughs.
“It (being traded) definitely sucked,” said Farabee, a former first-round draft pick of Philadelphia. “But at the same time, it has been awesome in Calgary.
“The team has been great. The guys have been awesome to us. We’re having a blast.”
In 10 games with the Flames, Farabee has a goal with a minus-3. Frost has two goals and an assist with a minus-4.
Looking back at his days in Philadelphia, Farabee sounded a bit wistful.
“The group that I played with in Philly was just a really special team,” the Syracuse native said. “A lot of good friends.
“It (the game) will be weird for sure but once the game starts, it’s just hockey.”
Farabee and Frost are sharing an apartment in Calgary for the time being. At least there’s one familiar face to converse with and hang out in free time.
Asked for a highlight of the Flyer segment of his career, Farabee didn’t have to think too much. It was the 1,000th game of Claude Giroux’s career, shortly before the Flyer great was traded to Florida in the deal which involved Owen Tippett.
“I have a big framed picture of the team from that game,” Farabee said. “That’s something I’ll always remember. I think that year we weren’t very good but I think that was the best crowd I ever played in front of.”
Farabee said he will always be grateful to the Flyers for giving him an opportunity to play in the NHL at just 19 years of age.
“I’ll always look forward to coming back here,” he said. “This is a team that took a chance and drafted me and believed in me. I have nothing but good things to say about this organization and it’s a great building to play in.”
Flyers coach John Tortorella said he had not spoken to the two players since they arrived here but planned to do at some point.
“I didn’t realize how busy I would be in that 4 Nations (tournament),” he said. “I have not been able to. I will. I was going to call them but I would rather not do it on the phone. I’d rather do it face-to-face. We’ll get to one another eventually. I think they’re concentrating on a new team.”
>No time limit on Michkov
Tortorella acknowledged rookie Matvei Michkov looked a bit fatigued prior to the 4 Nations break but said he has no plans to limit the young Russian’s ice time in these last 30 games.
“Just playing him,” Tortorella said. “I’m not monitoring his ice time. We’re going to play him, we’re trying to win. He’s been playing well. I’m going to put him in those (crucial) spots. I don’t have the sliderule as far as that’s concerned.”
Michkov began Tuesday’s play leading all NHL rookies in goals with 19 and power-play goals with seven. He’s getting better at his play away from the puck.
“He still makes a ton of mistakes away from the puck,” Tortorella said. “But he’s one a really good job with that. Better than I expected. Still a ways to go but that’s the fine line of me coaching him. I don’t need him to be perfect. The biggest part of the game we want from him is the offensive part.”
>Konecny’s situation
Travis Konecny, the Flyers’ leading goal scorer with 22 heading into the Calgary game, has struggled of late with just one goal in his last 14 games prior to the Calgary game. Tortorella is hoping to get him back on track down the stretch.
“He’s still involved in the offense,” the coach said. “He’s frustrated. The biggest thing with him is he can’t get tied up into a fit. It really hurts him. I think he’s just trying to allow it to come to him.”
