Joel Farabee fit to be first NY/NJ prospect to come off the board

Projecting a draft prospect’s potential is one of the most difficult tasks for NHL scouts. It’s one thing to see how well a player can skate, shoot or pass against other young players, but it’s a tricky proposition to determine if that player’s game translates to the next level.

That’s what makes USA Hockey National Team Development Program left wing Joel Farabee such an intriguing young prospect. The Cicero, N.Y., native is trending upward as he entertains the possibility of becoming the first player from the region selected in this month’s 2018 NHL Entry Draft.

“He has a big upward trajectory,” said former RPI coach Seth Appert, who was Farabee’s coach with the NTDP U-18 team this past season.

Unlike some of his NTDP teammates, Farabee wasn’t always destined for stardom. He initially committed to University of New Hampshire while playing for Selects Academy at South Kent, a prep school in Connecticut. His rise started there, as he eventually would switch his commitment to Hockey East powerhouse Boston University. But even as his NTDP journey began, he was never thought of as a potential first-round pick.

“Joel Farabee was a little bit of an unknown to make the team, but he came here and made the team and started having some success. He went from that to being one of the best players in the world in this birth year two years later,” Appert praised.

The 6-foot, 164-pound Farabee has yet to even come close to scratching the surface of becoming the physical specimen he eventually could be when it comes time to play pro hockey.

“He’s still a young kid physically. He’s barely shaving. He works his tail off in the weight room, but he hasn’t filled out yet. That’s the beauty of it. When he gets to 6-1 and 190, it’s going to be scary how effective he can be,” Appert said.

Farabee ranked second on the NTDP U-18 team in goals, assists and points as he racked up 33 goals, 43 assists and 76 points this season.

“He’s extremely talented. He’s a great playmaker,” said Appert, who was quick to point out that Farabee’s offensive production goes far beyond just having innate athletic ability.

‘Joel Farabee was a little bit of an unknown to make the team, but he came here and made the team and started having some success. He went from that to being one of the best players in the world in this birth year two years later.’
— U.S. NTDP U-18 coach Seth Appert

“He scores goals because he goes to miserably hard areas. Most of his goals are scored from within three to four feet of the blue paint. It takes guts to go there, but he goes there because that’s where he scores,” Appert continued.

When NHL teams rate players based on their skating and puck skills, they take many factors into consideration. Acceleration, speed, balance and mobility are accounted for in determining a player’s overall skating ability. Farabee’s speed and acceleration are both at the high end of the draft class, but his balance and mobility are just about as good as it gets in this class. Balance in a hockey sense is just how well a player can stay on his skates and not get knocked around, while mobility looks at how well a player can stop and start, pivot and maneuver in small areas.

In terms of puck skills, Farabee’s ability to give a pass is clearly his best attribute. He’s a gifted playmaker who can set a teammate up with a pass right on the tape of his stick. His shot accuracy, shot strength and shot release are all very good. Stickhandling and puck protection also are considered to be firstround worthy.

Another reason Farabee projects to be a first-round pick is his all-around game. He’s not simply an elite offensive talent. His skating and competitiveness allow him to be a force in all three zones. He can get in lanes and recover pucks in the defensive zone to start the transition.

“He does everything right,” Appert said. “You could argue he was our best penalty killer. He was one of our best offensive players. He was the most consistent defensive winger. You can put him in offensive situations and defensive situations. He blocks shots. He does everything you want your elite players to do to win hockey games.”

NHL teams look at several areas when grading a player’s compete level. Scoring drive, forechecking, work ethic, attitude and consistency are all factors considered. Especially considering he hasn’t begun to fill out, Farabee does well in all categories. For someone who hasn’t bulked up yet, his desire to win battles along the wall and go to the net are impressive.

In addition to his physicals gifts and high compete level, Farabee has tremendous hockey sense, according to his coach.

“He’s as complete of a hockey player as you’ll find at 17 years old. He’s a coach

’s dream. He thinks the game like a coach thinks a game. Things that bother him bother me. He has a very mature approach and a mature game,” Appert explained.

Playmaking, decision-making, anticipation are all categories where Farabee is evaluated well. As he continues to grow, his play under pressure should improve.

With Farabee’s NTDP career in the rearview mirror, he can look back on his time in Plymouth, Mich., knowing he helped the program win. He was part of the gold-medal-winning U.S. team at last year’s U-18 World Championship and fell just short with a silver medal this season.

Even with all he’s accomplished and the accolades that have followed, Farabee’s desire to get better has stayed strong, a characteristic that Appert clearly feels is worthy of recognition.

“He’s just a winner. He’s a hockey player. He’s a savage competitor. He shows up every day to try to prove he’s the best player in the world. It’s incredibly impressive to be around,” Appert said.

NHL organizations believe Farabee’s leadership capabilities are as good as any player in this draft class. Most NHL draft prognosticators believe Farabee will be taken in the first half of the first round on June 22.

FARABEE FILE

▸ His brother Jacob plays college hockey at Connecticut College, while another brother, Jesse, formerly competed at SUNY-Oswego.

▸ His USHL point total this season improved by 17 points, despite playing in four fewer games. Averaging more than a point per game in a league that is so tough to score in is a worthy accomplishment.

▸ His growth from his U-15 year to U-16 was steep. He went from 33 points to 49 points in his only two seasons at South Kent.

▸ While Farabee’s college destination is set, it is not known who his coach will be after David Quinn left Boston University to take over as head coach of the New York Rangers.