Joel Farabee’s struggles a cause for concern as Flyers flounder

The Philadelphia Flyers are just seven games into the 2024-25 season, and they\'ve already managed to string together a six-game losing streak. With just three points to their name, the Flyers are not only in the cellar of the Metropolitan Division, but they\'re also in last place in the entire Eastern Conference. And by the time they play their next game — a matinee against the Minnesota Wild on Saturday — there\'s a non-zero chance they could be sitting at the very bottom of the league standings.

Many factors have contributed to the Flyers\' rocky start to the season. For starters, their defensive struggles and less-than-stellar play from backup goaltender Ivan Fedotov haven\'t done them any favors. Pair all that with a scoring drought? That\'s a recipe for disaster.

The Flyers currently have the second-worst goal differential (minus-14) of all 32 NHL clubs, behind only the ghastly San Jose Sharks, who have still yet to win a game. Is this dramatic goal disparity the result of bad luck? That\'s a likely factor. Could it also be a consequence of the ever-changing line combinations? That may also be an element.

But perhaps most importantly, some of the Flyers\' better point producers have struggled to create offense. Owen Tippett, for example, has been the recipient of fierce ire from fans through the Flyers\' first seven games. Despite ranking 10th out of all NHL players with a whopping 7.7 shot attempts per game, he\'s managed to find the back of the net just once in nearly 126 minutes of total ice time. Still, while Tippett\'s scoring numbers are less than desirable, he\'s at least putting himself in position to light the lamp.

Meanwhile, a player like Joel Farabee, who has been largely unnoticeable to start the season, should have fans feeling much more uneasy. With just one goal and a pair of assists to start the season, Farabee\'s raw scoring numbers — identical to Tippett\'s — aren\'t good, but they also aren\'t overly frightful. Slow starts happen, and they can be somewhat offset by driving play and putting teammates in position to score goals.

But that\'s where Farabee has not struggled the most.

Through seven games, Farabee ranks among the Flyers\' most ineffective play drivers. At 5-on-5, he ranks third-to-last on the team with a horrendous 40.44 Corsi For percentage. His 37.19 Goals For percentage? That ranks fourth-to-last on the team. In Farabee\'s first 70:28 of 5-on-5 ice time to start the season, the Flyers have been outshot 47-33 and outscored 10-3.

Farabee hasn\'t just been borderline invisible offensively — he\'s been a legitimate liability.

The poor results don\'t end at 5-on-5, either. Even on the power play, the Flyers have been outscored 2-1 with Farabee on the ice. In fact, he is one of just three forwards on the roster (along with Sean Couturier and Scott Laughton) who have watched more pucks end up in their own net while on the man advantage.

The numbers are alarming, and there should be a real cause for concern regarding Farabee\'s struggles. However, history suggests he may be due for some positive regression. After all, during the 2023-24 campaign, Farabee not only set career highs in goals, assists and points, but he also posted above-average play-driving numbers despite routinely skating alongside less effective linemates — most often Scott Laughton, Cam Atkinson and Bobby Brink.

Disturbingly, however, Farabee\'s offensive shortcomings became apparent even in the midst of his most productive season as an NHLer. He managed just 10 points in the Flyers\' final 34 games of the 2023-24 campaign, though it should be noted that his play-driving efficiency was far superior to what he\'s displayed to begin the 2024-25 season.

This could just be a very, very long rough patch for Farabee, and perhaps he\'ll return to his typical form in due time. But right now, he\'s looking like one of the Flyers\' least dependable forwards — a far cry from the player he was just a calendar year ago.

That\'s being reflected in his ice time.

Farabee is currently averaging only 12:56 of action per game, and in Wednesday night\'s tilt against the Capitals, he saw just 8:58 of time on ice. For reference, Nic Deslauriers (6:52) was the only player to earn fewer minutes than Farabee in Washington. Farabee saw only two shifts in the third period, and it may not be a coincidence that he was on the bench for most of the Flyers\' late-game offensive surge.

Is Farabee due for a trip to the press box? Given his history with head coach John Tortorella, that would hardly be surprising.

Frankly, it might even be vital to helping him find his game.

Statistics courtesy of NHL.com , MoneyPuck.com and Natural Stat Trick .

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