Farrance has already had one of those meetings with another BU Terrier - Preds Head Coach John Hynes - where they watched video on Farrance's own game and evaluated not only his strengths and areas for improvement, but also what's expected of Predators defensemen. That session was just part of the process for Farrance who could see time in the NHL before the regular season is done, but, as always, the Preds will do what's best for the player.
"We're looking forward to having him come in, and once he gets out of quarantine, he'll be with the taxi squad," Hynes said. "Any player that's on the taxi squad is going to be eligible to play, so if we feel it's going to be the right thing for him and the team, if that opportunity presents itself, then there's a good chance we'd be able to see him, but I think it's not going to be something where he comes right in and you put him in. He's got to get up to speed, and just signing out of college and coming in, getting up to speed, getting back skating and kind of being around things and then we'll see where it goes from there."
Not only is Farrance looking forward to learning from Nashville's top blueliners, he's also anticipating a reunion with one as well. Farrance was teammates with Dante Fabbro for two seasons at Boston University, and the older Fabbro was a role model at the time with the young defenseman from the moment he stepped on campus.
"I'm really looking forward to seeing Fabbs again," Farrance said. "Great guy, great leader and I'm just looking forward to possibly sitting on a bench with him again."
While he'll get to study alongside NHL defensemen now, Farrance's development over the past four years since he was drafted by Nashville has been helped by a number of contacts in the organization, led by Predators Director of Player Development Scott Nichol. The ability to learn and grow with the help of the NHL club is instrumental for any draftee, and Farrance is no different feeling as prepared as he can be at this stage for the upcoming challenges.
"Throughout all four years, I've been really close with Scott Nichol," Farrance said. "He's been a tremendous help to me, and we talk to each other a lot about really anything - school, hockey, family, so he's been a huge help. [Former Preds Development Coach] Wade Redden, when I was a freshman, sophomore, and halfway through my junior year, he was there and he was a huge help talking about really the same things, hockey and school; he would help with really anything, and now [Preds Defense Development Coach Rob Scuderi] has taken over that job, and he's also done a great job, a great guy to talk to who knows a lot about the game. I've got plenty of resources with Nashville, and it's been great."
Farrance, who grew up outside of Rochester skating on a backyard rink built by his father, also remembers being in awe with former NHLer Ryan Callahan stopping by practices from time to time in his youth hockey days. As he got older, Farrance also trained with former NHLers Brian and Steven Gionta, mainstays in the Rochester hockey scene, who helped show him what was necessary to play hockey at the highest levels.
Today, that dream of skating under the bright lights of the NHL is closer than ever before, and once he's gotten a few more chess matches to his name, Farrance will lace up his skates at Bridgestone Arena and continue preparing for a moment he's been waiting for his entire life.
He doesn't yet know when game No. 1 will come, but the thought of calling Nashville home is even better than a checkmate.
"It's one of the best cities you could play in, and the energy and the vibes here are unbelievable," Farrance said. "I remember watching the [2017 Stanley Cup Final] a while back and just how crazy it was in the building. I didn't go to a game, but you could just tell on TV. I'm sure it didn't do it justice, but it just seemed like the building was rocking, and the fans are great… It's a great city. I love the city and the fans seem amazing - one of the best fanbases in the NHL."
