Joel Farabee Lost Friend, Mentor When Flyers Traded Kevin Hayes

Everyone knows pro sports is a business. Athletes know it best.

Players get traded, they get cut, they get benched. They also get paid handsomely for their unique services. Unless players have no-trade clauses, they are considered potentially mobile. Upwardly mobile, but mobile nonetheless.

Throughout this Philadelphia Flyers’ offseason, a safe bet was that forward Kevin Hayes would be traded. The rumors were persistent. For a rebuilding team looking for draft assets, Hayes was pretty valuable.

The deal happened last month. Hayes reportedly was part of a trade to St. Louis with defenseman Travis Sanheim that was to bring back one of the Blues’ first-round draft picks and defenseman Torey Krug.

But Krug chose not to waive his no-trade clause and the deal collapsed. A few days later, the Philadelphia Flyers traded Hayes to the Blues for a 2024 sixth-round draft pick. On top of that, the Flyers agreed to pay half of Hayes’ $7.1 million salary for three years, the remainder of his contract.

Imagine Hayes. The Flyers were so willing to get rid of him, they ate half of his remaining salary. And what Hayes brought in return, a sixth-rounder, has to be ego-deflating. It’s just the business.

Players get traded and they leave behind teammates, friends and mentors. For Flyers’ forward Joel Farabee, that is Kevin Hayes.

Rosters Change

Farabee has been a pro for four seasons. He was a first-round draft pick in 2018, 14th overall. He’s been in the NHL long enough to understand that business is a priority over feelings.

Farabee knows one of the downsides of the business is that players come and players go. Even good friends.

Rosters don’t remain the same and they can’t. Especially for teams trying to claw their way out of the dregs of the standings.

Hayes was a mentor and friend to Farabee, who is seven years his junior.

“I don’t really think there’s enough good things I could say about ‘Haysie,’ ” Farabee said weeks before the Hayes trade.

“He’s one of my best friends. From the first day I got here, as a 19-year-old, he kinda took me under his wing.

“Same with guys like Scott Laughton, Michael Raffl and the list kinda goes on.

“Haysie had always been so good to me, leading me in the right direction. I just think he’s a terrific pro and whatever happens, happens.

“It’s out of the players’ control. He’s been so good to me and I feel loyal to him forever.”

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Flyers, In Case You Missed It:

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Sam Carchidi says Flyers are moving in the right direction. Honest.

Alexander Tertyshny wears Flyers’ logo, just like his late dad.

Flyers emphasizing player development, not roster spots, at camp.

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