Huska Wants Farabee Everywhere In Flames Lineup
The Calgary coach sees the 26-year-old winger as a penalty killer, a power-play option and Mikael Backlund's new checking-line partner.
Ask Ryan Huska what he wants from Joel Farabee this season and the list runs long.
"He's a penalty killer, he's a power play guy, he can play on our top line, he can be on a checking line," the Flames coach said. "Joel's kind of going to be all over the place, and I think over the last year and a bit we've learned to trust him in a lot of different situations. He thinks the game really well."
Huska went straight to the comparison everyone in Calgary will reach for with Blake Coleman out of the picture this season.
"I see him in a bit of a Blake Coleman mould," Huska said. "The longer he plays for us, the more leadership role he takes on, and he's going to be a guy that's going to be in some very big moments for our team moving forward."
Farabee begins the season on Mikael Backlund's checking line, in the spot Coleman used to hold. He is also in the running for an 'A' alongside Zach Whitecloud, joining Jonathan Huberdeau, after wearing one late last season once MacKenzie Weegar and Rasmus Andersson were traded.
It is a change for Farabee, who arrived in Calgary with Morgan Frost two seasons ago having twice scored 20 goals in Philadelphia, and who wasn't sure what his role would be.
"My whole life I've always played better when the communication has been there, and I'm told, 'this is what we need you to do, this is how we see you,'" Farabee said. He killed penalties, checked top lines, and still scored 20 goals.
This summer he was added to Calgary's six-player leadership group, the youngest of the bunch behind Backlund, Huberdeau, Whitecloud, Ryan Strome and new arrival Jake Middleton.
"I'm kind of not quite an older guy yet, but I'm not a young guy anymore," Farabee said. He scored once and set up another goal in Tuesday's 3-1 exhibition win. He is set to play his 500th NHL game Oct. 4 in Seattle.
