Ensimmäinen kierros takana ja Flyers tosiaan nappasi pari jenkkihyökkääjää.
Ensiksi 14th overallilla Joel Farabee (LW / 6’0’’ / 162 lbs), jota oli eri draft rankingeissa ennakoitu suunnilleen noille haminoille, joten tuskin hätkähdytti sen suuremmin. USA:n maajoukkue hyökkääjää tuli nähtyä itsekin useamman pelin verran ja ihan mukava kuva jäi. Ei välttämättä se kaikista säihkyvin talentti, mutta mukavan monipuolinen ja ennen kaikkea älykäs ja työteliäs tapaus hyvällä liikkeellä. Erikoistilanteissa pelasi niin ylivoimaa kuin alivoimaa, oli järjestäen jäällä ottelun ja erien lopun kriittisissä vaihdoissa jne. Kaikin puolin sellainen valmentajan rakastama kova luonteinen kaveri, jota vastaan olisi varmasti ikävä pelata.
On tullut tuttuun tapaan hankittua läjä draft guideja, joista seuraavaksi poiminnat. Suluissa näiden pelaajalle antama ranking.
Future Considerations (15th overall):
”Blessed with strong two-way puck sense, he is an appealing prospect. Not a tonne of flash in his game, but Farabee has no glaring holes in his game, which makes him an effective player. Skating, he works off his edges and opens up ice. He’ll not shy to drive towards the net and he knows how to find the soft spots on the ice. His shot is quick-released and he knows how to use it – and how to make a quick pass instead. The only drawback to his distribution game is that sometimes he’ll pass up a terrific shooting opportunity and opt for an attempt at a highlight-reel setup, which can end up as turnovers. This crops up especially on power plays. He’s shown lots of deception in the short game. Consistently, he creates chances with his skating and his playmaking ability. He stickhandles close to his body and can escape pressure situations with quick moves. The Cicero, N.Y., native’s compete level is high. He’ll race for the puck and battle along the wall in all three zones, and he knows how to attack a defender and suffocate space. He is a decent defensive player, but doesn’t show aggressiveness making plays deep in his own zone. Farabee is one of the most impressive forward prospects coming out of the U.S. this year, thanks to his elite stickhandling ability and his knack for making plays at top speed.”
Hockey Prospects (12th overall):
”Joel Farabee had an excellent season for the USNTDP, playing a key offensive role on the top-line, mostly with Hughes and Wahlstrom, while being deployed in all situations. He recorded 70 points in 57 games this past season and is slated to play for the University of Boston after next year.
He is a two-way winger that plays above his weight class and has a rare combination of skill paired with a relentless drive. His best attributes are his vision and his hockey-sense, he’s also one of the best playmaking wingers in this draft class and is capable of making skilled passes that are difficult for opponents to gauge yet are easy for his teammates to handle. His passing ability is amplified when taking into account his hockey IQ which is very high; he reads developing plays quickly and is ahead of the play in most instances which allows him to make set ups with the puck on his stick that surprises defensive-units. His intelligence also allows him to control the tempo of the game in the offensive-end, he’s excellent at changing the rhythm of a play to his liking and switching the conditions on the ice by re-opening lanes for his passing options. His shot is also an offensive weapon, similar to Wahlstrom, he’s capable of hiding his intentions with his shooting mechanics and can release shots with surprising velocity given his build, he’s also displayed great accuracy in our viewing’s by finding small seems on goalies while shooting at severe angles. Furthermore, his puck skills are high-end and he’s a creative player, who takes advantage of his ability to process the play at a fast rate, which lead to several wellexecuted give-and-go sequences with his teammates throughout the season.
Although slight of frame, Farabee has a powerful lower-body which he uses to push off into a fluid stride, his skating mechanics are a plus and he’s capable of starting and stopping on a dime. His skating ability when combined with his surprising strength, makes him difficult to handle on the forecheck for opposing players. We have seen him physically out-muscle and out-battle against much larger players, even tossing them to the ice on some plays. His defensive game is also advanced for his age and his position, he’s good at reading the play without the puck and was used in a penaltykilling role where he generated several short-handed chances. One criticism with his game, although it’s a small one considering it’s rare, is that occasionally he doesn’t seem as engaged as he should be, for instance we watched him in games where he doesn’t use his skill-set as much as could have for a period or two before becoming noticeable on the ice later in the game.
Farabee was not a passenger on his line, despite playing with excellent players, he was more than capable of driving possession without them and at times was the motor for them, showing a high-degree of versatility. We feel that Joel has untapped potential due to his style of play converting well if he grows a thicker frame which should develop in the coming years. ”
“He’s smart and always effective, liked him last year. He and Wahlstrom are good together. His frame is too small for me to be as aggressive as you are on him though. I like him as a mid first.” - NHL Scout, October 2017
“I think he’s a complete player and maybe the most offensively creative forward in this draft.” HP Scout, Dusten Braaksma
“Just solid across the board, a productive player who competes.” - NHL Scout, May 2018
“Take it for what it’s worth, but I had one scout single him out as an one of the combine interview that didn’t impress him. The player impresses me on the ice and I didn’t get other bad feedback. I have never interviewed him myself.” - HP Scout, Mark Edwards
McKeen’s Hockey (12th overall):
”Raised in a hockey playing household, Joel Farabee’s two older brother, Jacob and Jesse, parlayed a respectable amount of skill to spots in NCAA DIII schools. Nice players, but not getting the scouts out. Joel, despite not being nearly the size of his older brothers, was always able to stand out. Even at age 15, playing U16 hockey in Syracuse (he is from nearby Cicero, NY), Farabee committed to Boston University, one of the best hockey schools in the country. Not long after, he was invited to try out for the hot-house program in Plymouth Michigan and made it, splitting his age 16/17 season between the U17 and U18 rosters. He was the leading scorer for the former squad.
This year he took things to another level, showing a game that was highly effective both with and without the puck. By year’s end he trailed only the number five ranked draft prospect Oliver Wahlstrom in scoring, although 16 year old Jack Hughes would have also been on top had he spent the full season with the U18 team. The funny thing about watching Farabee on the USNTDP, was that he always gives off the impression that he could actually produce quite a lot more, but he is being tasked with certain roles that are less conducive to racking up points and he aims to prove his reliability first and foremost. This reliability raises the floor on what his future holds. Farabee is a strong skater, if not quite a speed demon. It plays up, though, thanks to excellent acceleration. If he was a car commercial, the announcer would be talking about his top of the market 0-60 time. His playmaking skills are fantastic as well. He makes at least one jaw dropping pass per game. His assist totals were not acquired cheaply.
He has a very good shot, too. He mostly relies on a wrist shot and has a knack for getting one through to the net through heavy traffic. Of course, as hinted at above, his hockey IQ is very high. He plays heavy minutes on both special teams units for the program, is extremely diligent off the puck and plays the wing like a center, in a way that reminds me of Mikael Granlund. This is one of the reasons why I expect he could produce more in another role. On the power play, for example, Farabee is often deployed in front of the net, even though he is somewhat undersized. Given more freedom to roam, he could be more productive on the man advantage. Which brings us back to his brothers. Jacob is listed at 6-4”, 201 pounds. Jesse measures in at 6-3”, 185. Joel is in the 5-11” – 6-0” range, depending on who measured him, and tips the scales at 168 pounds. Chances are he is not yet done growing. He plays a heavier game than most of his size, but I would hazard to guess that this element of his game would be even more effective if he has another growth spurt in him.”
ISS Hockey (11th overall):
”Farabee is a skilled, playmaking type that makes everyone around him better. He has elusive speed that catches defenders off guard at times He is quick to jump into holes for loose pucks and wins most races to pucks. A leader on the ice who can be used in all situations. No weaknesses in his game while he does everything well. Strong lower body with good character, drive makes him a player you love to have on your team. Able to hold on to the puck, can pass and drive to the net. Excellent penalty killer. He is always in the right spot at the right time and the puck seems to follow him around the ice.”
“Gifted playmaker with a very high hockey IQ - incredibly mature for just a 17-year old young man. Big time character and leadership ability. Bright future. Will play at next level and have success." Director of Scouting, Dennis MacInnis
“Very smart two-way forward. Has a great ability to read/anticipate and puts himself in the right position to make plays. Has good vision, quick hands, makes smart reads on zone entries and attacks one-on-one.” ISS Scout Tim Zeches
“Good hands in front of the net and proved to be deadly from the slot, has an excellent wrist shot. Good reads on the play developing from the neutral zone and anticipated well. Good puck possession player who loves to shoot from any angle.” ISS Scout Genel Zyle
Recrutes (22nd overall):
”The old scouting adage that undersized forwards struggle to produce come playoff time has been put to rest in recent years as undersized wingers like Jon Marchessault, Tyler Johnson and Viktor Arvidsson have flourished in a league that has trended more towards the skill game. It is rare for a 160-pound winger to get selected in the top 20 of the draft, so for Farabee to be getting that consideration is an indication of just how highly regarded he is in the scouting community. It helps when you consistently score goals and put up big numbers. Farabee was an offensive force for the US development team in the USHL, notching 33 goals and 76 points in 52 games. He was also a consistent producer and competitive in all U-18 tournaments from beginning to end, wrapping up the season with four goals and four assists in the U-18 Championship.
“He’s a very smart player,” noted one US-based scout who saw Farabee at least 15 times. “NHL hockey sense for sure, makes plays. Really good skill; he has a really goods hot and NHL release, and he competes his ass off. He finishes checks. He’s very very competitive, never cheats you, a really good all-around player” Scouts like to see elite-level skating from undersized prospects, and it’s the one area of Farabee’s game that may keep him out oft he top 20 on Friday night. “I don’t think he’s a great skater,” noted one scout. “He has that wide-track stancea nd he’s 160 pounds. You see him off the ice and do your body assessment and you start to add it up...he might always be a light guy .I like him, I’ve got him as a first-round guy ,but I think there’s a little bit more of a miss factor than some guys think.”
Scott Wheeler – The Athletic (10th overall):
”Farabee is one of those players who won’t break open a game with pure skill, but will finish after 18-20 minutes of ice time with a goal or an assist and a huge backcheck to prevent one at the other end. He’s a high-end skater and he uses it to play an aggressive forecheck, break up plays and retrieve possession. He may not become a first-line player but he’s got better playmaking and scoring touch than he’s given credit for in Wahlstrom’s shadow. He can escape trouble with light footwork on his edges or a deft curl in tight to his body. Once he gets stronger, he’s got a very good chance of becoming an excellent two-way forward who can play with shooters or playmakers. Give him a couple years at Boston University and you may get something really special. He’s going to be a reliable NHL player.”
Corey Pronman – The Athletic (27th overall):
”Farabee had a great season for the USNTDP being one of their best all-around forwards. I wouldn’t describe Farabee as a dynamic offensive player, but he does a lot well. Farabee handles the puck at an above-average level, can make defenders miss, and can both create chances and finish them. He skates fine, he lacks a true separation gear, but he can push the pace when he needs to, works hard and, with his hustle, gets to where he needs to go. Farabee wins battles despite being undersized, being a reliable defensive forward, and was one of the best penalty killers for the NTDP, including being a shorthanded threat. His best attribute is his intelligence. Farabee shows great overall instincts as a playmaker and makes consistently good decisions at a quick pace. While he put up very good numbers this season, I am skeptical of him projecting out as a very impactful offensive player as a pro. He’ll become a coach’s favorite though with how reliable and hard he works every shift combined with a good talent level.”
USNTDP U18 coach Seth Appert said: “He’s a complete player. He creates a ton of offense without any cheat to his game. He’s a 200-foot player. He’s a great penalty killer and dangerous shorthanded. He’s got the skill level to break you down 1-on-1 and make plays through people. He’s the absolute fiercest competitor.”
Nuo draft-combinen mitat 6’0’’ / 162 lbs osoittavat heti yhden selvän kehityskohteen eli voimaa ja lihasta olisi saatava kroppaan lisää, jotta voisi NHL:ssä pärjätä. Se, että noinkin heiveröisillä raameilla on pystynyt tuollaiseen suorittamiseen, kertoo toki ainoastaan hyvää niistä muista ominaisuuksista. Seuraavat pari-kolme kautta menevät siis NCAA:ssa Bostonin yliopiston laadukkaassa kiekko-ohjelmassa.