Flyers rookie left winger Joel Farabee carved out a unique place in Flyers history for himself earlier this season when he became the first player born in the 2000s to play for the team. He also accompanied the team to its first-ever trip to play in Europe, although he was a late roster cut before the opening night roster was set for Global Series game in the Czech Republic.

"When I look back on my career, my rookie season will probably be the most interesting. I think all in all, it's a really cool experience to get to go to Europe and stuff like that. I had a lot of fun on that trip," Farabee said on Thursday during a conference call with reporters.

"The way I look at it, to be able to play as many games as I did this year [ 52 in the NHL, five in the AHL] is a positive for me. I think if we finish this year and even in the next year, I think I would like to produce a little bit more. I thought I had a lot of chances. Some of them just didn't go in. Hopefully with a good summer, getting a little stronger and bigger, I think some of those chances will get finished next year. All you can do is get better from one year to the next. That's what I plan on doing."

Along with the rest of society, the 20-year-old Farabee is living through a different type of history: the Covid-19 pandemic, and the corresponding pause of the 2019-20 National Hockey League and American Hockey League seasons. He hopes that his rookie season isn't over yet, but there's no way to know for sure right now.

"With the coronavirus going around, it's kind of a crazy time. I was talking to my family the other day and I was saying that one day we're going to be in history books about how the coronavirus kind of stopped the whole world basically. It's definitely a strange time. I know the guys are looking forward to getting back and playing hockey again," he said.

If and when the season is completed, there appears to be an increasingly strong possibility based on Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommendations, that the games will have to be played with no fans in the stands. It is possible that the games will be conducted at neutral site venues, although no decisions have been on any front. Farabee conceded that the atmosphere would feel strange for awhile but said motivation and energy would not be a significant problem.

"It'd definitely feel a little different, but at the end of the day we just want to play hockey. If we can play with no fans, we will do it. I think the biggest thing is just waiting until government officials say it's safe for us to go back out and do what we love," he said.

At the same time, given how well the Flyers have played at the Wells Fargo Center this season, there would be adjustments to make. The rookie has settled into life in the Delaware Valley and forged a bond of mutual affinity with Philadelphia fans, just as his father (a transplanted Bucks County native who grew up a fan of all the Philly sports teams) predicted.

"I think just playing in our own arena with our own fans is so great. I think we have some of the most passionate fans in the NHL. Playing in front of them gives us a lot of energy and we want to play well for them. I think just the fans and the comfortability of being home, having your own routine, and stuff like that really helps guys out and for me, personally," he said.