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 will open the season in Coleman's old spot on Mikael Backlund's checking line. 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.
That is a shift for a player who came to Calgary with Morgan Frost two seasons ago, a two-time 20-goal scorer in Philadelphia who wasn't sure how he would be used.
"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," said Farabee, who had a goal and an assist in Tuesday's 3-1 exhibition win. He is set to play his 500th NHL game Oct. 4 in Seattle.
