The Calgary Flames will have two new faces in the lineup for Saturday’s Hockey Night in Canada clash with the Detroit Red Wings.
The Flames made a major move Thursday night, acquiring forwards Joel Farabee and Morgan Frost from the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for Andrei Kuzmenko, Jakob Pelletier and two draft picks.
Here’s all you need to know about the additions, complete with scouting reports from general manager Craig Conroy and head coach Ryan Huska …
Joel Farabee
Position: Left-winger
Age: 24
Measurements: 6-foot, 186 pounds
Contract details: Signed through end of 2027-28 at annual cap-hit of US$5 million.
Season stats: 50 GP, 8 G, 11 A, 19 P, 26 PIM
Career stats: 384 GP, 90 G, 111 A, 201 P, 221 PIM
Path to the NHL: Originally from Syracuse, N.Y., Farabee is a grad of the U.S. National Team Development Program and skated for the NCAA’s Boston University Terriers.
He’s got some jam and he can score. His minutes are down a little bit there, but I think we’re going to be able to give him a really good opportunity here in Calgary. When you watch him, he’s maybe a younger Blake Coleman-type player where he chips in offensively, he can score, he can put up points but he has some grit and you feel very comfortable when he’s on the ice in all situations.”
Huska’s take: “Farabee is a guy that, I think he’s a little untapped still. We’re hopeful he is going to turn into even more of a goal-scorer but he does have an edge to his game. He was chasing Pospy (Martin Pospisil) around the ice when Philly was here.”
Morgan Frost
Position: Centre
Age: 25
Measurements: 6-foot, 192 pounds
Contract details: His current deal, with an AAV of US$2.1 million, expires at the end of this season. He will be a restricted free agent.
Season stats: 49 GP, 11 G, 14 A, 25 P, 16 PIM
Career stats: 278 GP, 50 G, 85 A, 135 P, 80 PIM
Path to the NHL: Frost hails from Aurora, Ont. He was a standout for the OHL’s Soo Greyhounds, overlapping for one season with Flames prospect Rory Kerins.
“A natural centre. Really nice playmaking. Great hands. Sees the ice. Vision. I watched him tonight on the power-play, and he made some real nice plays, quick one-touches. He can transport the puck up and get it in (the zone). We have had some problems at times this year getting the puck in, so he is going to help with that.”
Huska’s take: “Frost is a skilled, playmaking centre. And he’s been pretty good in the faceoff circle this year, which is something that we’ve struggled with. I think that’s fairly well-known.”