Joel Farabee, Team USA Eliminated; More Struggles for Flyers Forward

After a dreadful, unproductive end to the 2023-24 season for Philadelphia Flyers forward Joel Farabee, it was generally considered a good thing that the 24-year-old would have the opportunity to play more hockey and back into a groove, featuring for Team USA at the Men’s IIHF World Championships in Czechia this month. The only problem for Farabee and the Flyers is that this tournament only created more questions that came without answers.

And perhaps of most consequence, the Flyers trade rumors will continue throughout the summer.

Farabee spent most of the World Championships on John Hynes and Team USA’s third line, playing alongside former Flyers forward Kevin Hayes and potential Flyers trade target Trevor Zegras. Though the ice time was fairly limited, Farabee factored in on just two of the team’s 37 goals. Hayes and Zegras struggled as well, combining for only two goals and an assist themselves.

At the same time, the only forwards who produced equal or less were fourth-liner Michael Eyssimont and youngsters Ryan Leonard, Will Smith, and Gavin Brindley, who are all either still in college or freshly out of it.

To make matters worse, Farabee and Team USA were blanked by Czechia, 1-0, on Thursday, ultimately sending the Americans packing home in failure and squashing their chances of medaling in the tournament. On the flip side, though, Flyers goalie Sam Ersson and his Sweden squad will have a chance to exact revenge against Czechia on behalf of Farabee and Co. on Saturday morning.

Ersson, who does not necessarily need the extra hockey this month after a busy rookie season in Philadelphia, has been excellent while representing his nation. The 24-year-old shot-stopper is a perfect 3-0-0 in the tournament so far, allowing exactly one goal in each of his three wins. Ersson and Sweden have not lost a single game so far in the World Championships; Ersson led his team to victories against Germany, Kazakhstan, and France, respectively.