The start of a new season brings different opportunities for different players.
And as Joel Farabee and Morgan Frost begin their second full seasons in Flames silks, they each find themselves on the cusp of seizing prominent roles in Calgary’s forward corps.
Through three days of camp, Frost has been stapled to the top-line centre role, while Farabee has been locked in alongside Mikael Backlund as the team's marquee two-way winger, a position made available following the departure of Blake Coleman to the Minnesota Wild this past July.
“I think at this point in my career, it's something I take a lot of pride in,” Farabee said following an on-ice session Saturday. “People on the outside look at the box score after games and see who scores and assists, I measure myself in how I play and how we play as a line, depending on how good we play defensively. So maybe we don't score as a line, but we don't let their top guys score, and we let our other guys get out there and score.
“I think it's a tough job playing a lot of top lines, a lot of D-zone matchups that are tough. Backs is one of the premier centres at doing that, and I think me and Honzo (Sam Honzek) can just help him out in any way we can.”
That's not to say Farabee and co. can’t provide some pop. The 26-year-old hit the 20-goal mark last season for the third time in his NHL career, and Backlund had 17 of his own a season ago as well.
But Farabee’s role as facilitator - taking care of tough matchups in the defensive zone - might well free up space for his longtime friend and teammate Frost, too. The centreman has been skating with Matt Coronato and Matvei Gridin through the first week of camp, which according to Frost is exactly what the trio wanted.
“I think that’s something all three of us were kind of hoping for in the off-season, and I thought we did some good things at the end of the year,” Frost said Friday. “We’re pretty comfortable with each other right now, and I’m looking forward to starting the year and playing with those guys.”
And as for that opportunity to play in a starring role down the middle? Well, that’s right up Frost’s alley, too.
“If anything, it’s motivating for me. I hope to earn a lot more ice-time this year, and be put in spots, not only just offensively, but I want to play on both sides of the puck.
“I just want to take that next step in my overall game and show why I can be a first or second-line centre.”
“I think Frosty, his whole career he’s kind of been pulled back a little bit on some of the skill and stuff he can do,” Farabee added. “I’m excited for him to be a true 1C and let his play just take over because he and the other guys he's playing with can really take over games.
“If my line does our job defensively, they're going to get out more and they're going to be able to score more.”
It remains to be seen whether Frost or Farabee will make their preseason debuts Sunday, when the Flames kick off their four-game exhibition campaign against the Kraken at the Scotiabank Saddledome (GET TICKETS).
But given the fact that Calgary’s regular-season opener is less than two weeks away - coincidentally, on home ice against Seattle as well - there’s no question Farabee is eager to put these practices into practice.
So to speak.
“I feel like we've had some good chemistry, even in the short time at camp,” he said. “So, we're excited to get going.
“It’s been a short camp, but things happen pretty quick here. First game’s tomorrow, and then next thing you know, it's going to be opening night.”
