A scoring surprise to start
Flyers’ Farabee opens with four-point night
After an opening night which saw the 201920 Art ross Trophy winner and runner-up make their season debuts — as well as John Tavares and Steven Stamkos each pick up three points — the NHL scoring leader was 20-year-old, once skinny virtual unknown from Cicero, N.y., just outside of Syracuse.
So much for trying to make Joel Farabee a lateround dark horse pick in your hockey pool this weekend.
The 14th-overall selection in the 2018 entry draft, Farabee had a goal and three assists in the Philadelphia Flyers 6-3 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins.
And he looked quite good doing it.
Sure, Farabee could be a one-night wonder. He could also become the scoring surprise of 2020-21.
While he’s coming off a rookie campaign in which he had just eight goals and 13 assists in 52 games, Farabee added 20 pounds during the off-season and now has 185 on his 6-foot frame.
The hard work he did to get ready was not unnoticed.
“There’s no doubt that there is a lot of skill and tools in Joel,” Flyers coach Alain Vigneault said, “but he’s putting in the time and the effort, and that’s what players need to do.”
Against the Penguins, Farabee played on a top line with Claude Giroux and Kevin Hayes, as well as the Flyers second power play unit.
Known as a smart player, Farabee has said he models his style after a fellow American, Penguins winger Jake Guentzel.
In just his second NHL campaign, Guentzel scored 40 times.
He might have matched that total in 2019-20 had he not suffered a season-ending should injury while scoring his 20th goal in december.
Is Farabee the next Guentzel? To that, the Flyers are nodding and hoping.
❚ CONNECTING THE DOTS: It’s long overdue, but at least the Bruins are getting around to retiring the jersey of Willie O’ree before their Feb. 18 home game against the devils.
Meanwhile, the NHL itself continues to miss the boat in properly paying tribute to O’ree, its first Black player. The Bruins are on the road to play the Islanders on Jan. 18, which this year is the 63rd anniversary of O’ree’s first game.
The league should be switching the venue to Boston’s Td Garden for that one — allowing the Bruins to raise O’ree’s jersey at a more appropriate time — and then declaring Jan. 18 Willie O’ree day.
That would allow O’ree to be lionized leaguewide, on the same day every year going forward.
If the idea sounds familiar it’s because MLB has recognized its first Black player with Jackie robinson day on April 15, the day of his first game, annually since 2004. How is it that none of the deep thinkers at the NHL’S head office haven’t suggested this, and if somebody has, why are we not celebrating Willie O’ree day on Monday? … What’s the price tag for team’s interested in trading for disgruntled Blue Jackets C Pierre-luc dubois? Commentator Nick Kypreos says dubois’ first choice destination is Montreal, but the Habs would have to part with Nick Suzuki-plus. That’s a big ask, but also not an unreasonable one for a guy of dubois’ talent and size.
❚ LINE CHANGES: The Blackhawks have placed captain Jonathan Toews (undisclosed illness) and rookie Kirby dach (broken wrist) on long-term injured reserve, which means they’ll miss at least 10 games and 24 days. By placing the two on LTIR, the Blackhawks can go over the salary cap while they are out. … Chicago also announced that d Brent Seabrook, who had off-season surgery on both hips and a shoulder, will remain on Ir.