In John Tortorella's mind last year, the 2022-23 season could essentially be tossed in the garbage when it came to evaluating Joel Farabee.
Sure, Farabee played, appearing in all 82 games in fact. But given the neck injury and subsequent surgery that wiped out his entire planned summer 2022 training regimen, Tortorella ultimately proved willing -- after a few pointed public critiques -- to cut Farabee some slack at the end of the campaign.
“I give him credit for coming back as quickly (as he did). I don’t think he’s hurt, but he did not have an offseason to get ready. And that’s where you make your gains, especially for a young man that I still think needs to get stronger, still growing into...
