Joel Farabee

Lore & Background

Farabee grew up in Cicero, New York, and credits his older brothers Jake and Jesse for inspiring his love of hockey. He played for the Syracuse Nationals, Buffalo Jr Sabres, and Selects Hockey Academy at South Kent School before joining the USA Hockey National Team Development Program. He initially committed to the University of New Hampshire but changed his commitment to Boston University in 2015. In his single season with the Terriers, he recorded 36 points in 37 games and led the team in multiple offensive categories. He was selected 14th overall by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2018 draft, a team he grew up supporting as his father was born and raised in Philadelphia.

Farabee made his NHL debut on October 21, 2019, against the Vegas Golden Knights, becoming the first Flyers player born in the 2000s. He scored his first official NHL goal in a 4–3 shootout win against the New Jersey Devils. During the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs, he became the first NHL player born in the 2000s to score a postseason goal. In the 2020–21 season, he tied a franchise record for most points in a season-opener with four points and scored his first NHL hat trick. He signed a six-year, $30 million contract extension with the Flyers on September 2, 2021. On January 30, 2025, he was traded to the Calgary Flames along with Morgan Frost in exchange for Andrei Kuzmenko, Jakob Pelletier, and two draft picks.

Reader's Guide

Farabee's significance lies in his rapid ascent from a standout college rookie to a consistent NHL contributor. His single season at Boston University, where he led the Terriers in nearly every offensive category and won national and conference rookie of the year honors, established him as a top prospect. Drafted 14th overall by the Flyers, he quickly made an impact, becoming the first Flyer born in the 2000s and the first NHL player born in that decade to score a playoff goal. His 2020–21 season, in which he recorded a career-high 38 points and won the Pelle Lindbergh Memorial Trophy as the team's most improved player, demonstrated his growth. Farabee's playing style, which he models after Jake Guentzel, emphasizes skating, playmaking, and hockey IQ, with comparisons to Brad Marchand and Zach Parise for his intensity. His trade to the Calgary Flames in January 2025 marked a new chapter in his career, bringing his offensive skills and competitive drive to a new organization.

Did You Know?

• He tied a Flyers franchise record for most points in a season-opener with four points on January 13, 2021.
• His grandfather Joe Klodzen was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball.
• Farabee scored his first NHL hat trick in a 4–3 overtime win against the New York Islanders.