Minnesota’s top defenseman receives medical clearance but requires additional conditioning before making his season debut.
Minnesota Wild defenseman Brock Faber took a major step toward the ice Thursday, rejoining his teammates for practice after recovering from a fractured skull. The 24-year-old’s presence provides an encouraging boost for a Minnesota squad that has maintained its place near the top of the standings despite a depleted roster.
Wild head coach John Hynes confirmed that team doctors cleared Faber to resume skating, though his lineup debut will be delayed while he rebuilds the conditioning required for NHL game action. Hynes ruled him out of Minnesota's home matchups on Friday and Saturday but indicated the defenseman will accompany the team on Tuesday's road trip to Montreal.
Faber's injury occurred during a preseason contest on September 25, when a shot struck the side of his helmet near the left ear. His condition subsequently deteriorated, requiring surgery and hospitalization. The long recovery has been closely monitored given the severity of the trauma and his critical role on the blue line.
Minnesota has plenty of reasons to welcome his comeback. Faber established himself as the Wild's most dependable defenseman last season, recording a career-best 51 points across 80 appearances while ranking ninth in the NHL in average ice time.
Remarkably, the Wild have sustained an impressive start without him, leading the Central Division with an 11-3-3 record. The defensive rotation has been further tested by the absence of captain Jared Spurgeon, who missed the last seven games with a lower-body injury after initially pairing with Quinn Hughes.
Reinforcements are nearing, however. Spurgeon is expected to travel next week alongside forwards Marcus and Nick Foligno, who have both missed a month with upper-body injuries. Goaltender Filip Gustavsson, yet to play this season following offseason hip surgery, will also join the trip.
While Faber's game availability remains dependent on his physical readiness, the imminent return of these five key contributors puts the division-leading Wild in a prime position to solidify their roster for the winter stretch.