2018 NHL Draft prospect profile: Joel Farabee

Joel Farabee should prove to be one of the best wings at the 2018 NHL Draft

The 2018 NHL Draft is deep with defensemen. Due to this, some forwards are a bit underrated in most mock drafts. One of those forwards is Joel Farabee. It’s rare to see a wing as complete as him, especially at his age.

Despite an impressive draft season, Farabee’s stock has fallen. This is more due to certain players rising than anything else. Farabee might not be at the same level as Andrei Svechnikov and Filip Zadina, but he’s easily in the tier just below them.

Prospect Profile

Height: 6’0″ (183 cm)
Weight: 168 pounds (76 kilograms)
Team: USNTDP Juniors
Country: United States
Position: Left Wing
Handedness: Left-handed
Date of birth: February 25, 2000
USNTDP Statistics: 62 games, 33 goals, 43 assists, 76 points, 44 penalty minutes
WJC U18 Statistics: Seven games, four goals, four assists, eight points, six penalty minutes
Average Prospect Ranking*: 10.25

All profile info is courtesy of Elite Prospects.
* Average prospect ranking is the collective average of a prospect’s four major rankings (McKeen’s, Hockey Prospect, Future Considerations, ISS Hockey)

Strengths

More from Puck Prose

Farabee has outstanding speed. He’s one of the best pure skaters in the 2018 draft. You can teach a prospect a number of things and help them develop certain skills, but speed and skating usually aren’t among them. Farabee uses his speed to his advantage, creatively creating lanes for shots and passes, not just for himself, but his teammates as well.

He has great instincts, showing off his goal-scoring prowess with 33 goals in his draft season. Farabee’s shot is very accurate. Assuming Farabee gets stronger, that’s only going to make him more lethal in the offensive zone.

Farabee’s greatest strength, however, might be his effectiveness in all three zones. The USNTDP gave him tons of time killing penalties. With Farabee’s skillset, it’s easy to see why. He also has an impressive compete level, which should serve him well in the future.

Weaknesses

My top concern with Farabee is his weight. He doesn’t have an optimal playing style for his frame. Farabee will have to put on some muscle while not losing his smooth, fast skating style. He’s also not that physical, so he’ll have to rely on his instincts to create turnovers in the defensive zone. That said, I believe Farabee’s high hockey IQ and stellar instincts will help him overcome this. But it’s worth noting, nonetheless.

There’s also the concern that his numbers might be a bit inflated. He got a ton of minutes with likely top-five draft pick Oliver Wahlstrom and consensus 2019 top pick Jack Hughes. Farabee must prove he wasn’t a product of two extremely talented forwards.

What They’re Saying About Him

"“Excellent sense with very good skills and he can play in just about any spot in your forward group in all situations.” – Craig Button, TSN “Farabee, a two-way puck mover with outstanding vision, plays a hard game in all areas of the rink.” – Mike Morreale – NHL.com"

Highlights

Overall Outlook

Farabee is committed to Boston College next season. Playing at least one year of college hockey should be terrific for him. Farabee should be at worst a consistent bottom-six contributor who can play during all situations. He’s an optimal top-nine forward, even as a passenger. His ceiling is a second-line wing who could be a first-line option if given the proper teammates.

Next: Post-Lottery 2018 NHL Mock Draft

Player Comparison

Stylistically, he reminds me a lot of Brendan Gallagher. Much like the Montreal Canadiens wing, Farabee is strong in all three zones despite a lack of size. He also plays with a certain fire in his belly just like Gallagher.

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