Joel Farabee takes notable step; Flyers putting Kevin Connauton on waivers a ‘tough one’

Farabee takes notable step; Tortorella says putting D-man on waivers a ‘tough one’ originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

VOORHEES, N.J. — With the local nine back in the playoffs Friday, Joel Farabee donned his red Phillies hat after practice.

Consider it his cleared-for-contact cap.

The Flyers’ winger took an important step in his path toward a potential return for the team’s regular-season opener. He was given the OK to participate in full-contact fashion for practice.

Farabee is recovering from disc replacement surgery in his cervical region that he underwent on June 24. He practiced throughout training camp as a non-contact participant, but had gradually started to try things out in physicality.

“A couple of times guys were like, ‘Can I hit you? Can I hit you?'” Farabee said. “I was just like, ‘Yeah, go for it.’ … But I think just doing battles and stuff the first couple of days of camp definitely helped, just that stick strength and all that kind of stuff definitely helps.”

He had no restrictions on the ice Friday for the first time since his procedure. Justin Braun’s style of defense was a solid test.

“Today felt good, I got bumped a few times, Brauner caught me a couple of times,” Farabee said. “So no issues and feeling good.

“Just trying to get ready for Game 1.”

The 22-year-old’s status is still to be determined for the Flyers’ opener Oct. 13 against the Devils at the Wells Fargo Center. His three-to-four month recovery timetable had him projected to miss most of camp and possibly the start of the regular season.

“I’m hoping for it. I don’t want to say, I can’t really confirm anything now,” Farabee said about the season opener. “Obviously I’ve got to talk to the guys here. We have a few more days before the first game, but I’m really hoping to.”

The Flyers are going to be careful here. But what Farabee has been able to do in camp has been promising for them.

“When I first got surgery, I didn’t think I was going to be in camp at all,” Farabee said. “So…