Colorado Avalanche: Joel Farabee Brings Work Ethic, Production and Character
The Colorado Avalanche will likely pick somewhere between #16 to #20 in the first round of the 2018 NHL Draft. Might they get lucky on a talented winger?
One thing the Colorado Avalanche could really use is help on the wings. For quite a while now, they’ve been stockpiling centers and using them as wings. However, the team needs proper wingers to augment their young centers.
Enter Joel Farabee. He’s a player who works hard and shows a lot of character. He’s been going through the ranks of the prestigious US National Development Team Program. He’s a goal-producing winger who could be a benefit to the Colorado Avalanche.
Joel Farabee
2017-18 Team: USNDTP
Date of Birth: Feb. 25, 2000 (18 years old)
Ht: 6’0″
Wt: 168 pounds
Position: Left wing
Shoots: Left
Ranked #8 by HOCKEYPROSPECT.COM
Ranked #15 by FUTURE CONSIDERATIONS
Ranked #11 by ISS HOCKEY
Ranked #12 by MCKEEN’S HOCKEY
Ranked #12 by NHL CENTRAL SCOUTING (NA Skaters)
One thing that stands out about left wing Joel Farabee is his skating. He’s renowned for being fast and agile. Here’s what The Draft Analyst has to say about his skating:
“He’s very quick in open ice and possesses a devastating change of pace that catches defenders flat footed.”
Cam Robinson of Dobber Prospects is also impressed by Farabee’s skating, calling it “top level.”
Future Considerations goes even farther, calling it “jersey-flapping” speed and praising his “ability to change pace,” which “allows him to stay elusive.”
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Ben Kerr of Last Word on Hockey goes into greater detail, remarking on his “agility and edgework,” which allows him to skate past opponents in one-on-one situations. What’s more, Kerr observes that Farabee blows past defenders once he gets a step on them. Kerr continues:
“He also has an outstanding first step and lightning quick acceleration. His top end speed is very good, and he is a threat to get behind the defence and get hit with a long breakaway pass. Farabee uses his ability to change speeds to fool defenders and create space.”
Speed isn’t the only quality in Joel Farabee’s wheelhouse. He also displays great stick skills. According to Kerr, he can control the puck while moving at top speed.
Future Considerations calls his hands “creative,” adding:
“...can pull a skilled one-on-one move to gain space…moves the puck around the ice extremely well, connecting with good strong passes that lead his linemates effectively.”
The Draft Analyst flat out call him a “lethal scorer,” while Robinson calls him a “dangerous and prolific scorer.”
Joel Farabee is also known for being a smart player who works hard in all three zones. Future Considerations says of him:
“He excels in all zones, providing his team with a tireless work ethic, strong defensive play, and some offensive flair.”
Kerr adds to that assessment:
“Farabee has good vision and is an outstanding playmaker off the wing. He anticipates extremely well and seems to be a step ahead of the play. Farabee finds open ice without the puck and makes smart plays with it.”
The two main knocks on Joel Farabee are that he’s pretty slight and that he needs to work on the velocity of his shot. Those two go hand-in-hand, and they also come with age.
Farabee is committed to playing for Boston University next season.
Joel Farabee in action:
Joel Farabee and the Colorado Avalanche
Joel Farabee would be a perfect fit for the Colorado Avalanche’s vision. He’s fast, he thinks the game as quickly as he skates, and he has elite puck skills. Even his size isn’t a deterrent since the Avs have shown in the last couple years they’ve been willing to sacrifice size for those other qualities.
Unfortunately, though he’s ranked #12 for North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting, he’s projected to get picked as high as #8 and no lower than #15. Colorado doesn’t have that high of a pick.
If, for some reason, Joel Farabee were to drop down and still be available with the Avalanche’s pick, I’m certain the team would choose him. Could you imagine that particular skill set on a line with Nathan MacKinnon? It would be electric.
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The 2018 NHL Draft takes place in Dallas, Texas at the American Airlines Center. The first round is Friday, June 22 with rounds 2 to 7 taking place Saturday June 23.