Minnesota Wild defenseman Brock Faber is out indefinitely after undergoing surgery to repair a fractured skull sustained during a preseason game against the Dallas Stars. The 24-year-old blueliner took a deflected puck near his left ear on Friday, leading to a successful procedure on Sunday.
The incident occurred at 10:24 of the second period during Minnesota’s preseason finale against the Dallas Stars on Friday. Forward Sam Steel sent a shot toward the net that deflected and struck Faber near his left ear in an area unprotected by his helmet. Wild coach John Hynes noted the extreme narrowness of the margin, pointing out that if it was a quarter-of-an-inch higher, it just hits his helmet.
Faber initially went down on the ice before skating to the bench under his own power. He returned for his next shift and finished out the second period.
Surgery on Sunday and an Indefinite Recovery Timeline
Faber underwent successful surgery on Sunday to repair the skull fracture, and Minnesota general manager Bill Guerin confirmed the procedure during a media interaction on Tuesday. The team placed the blueliner on injured reserve retroactive to the date of the injury.
He just had a serious surgery and an injury, so we’re just gonna update you guys when the time’s right. But he’s doing well. He’s doing really well, which is good news. And we’ll just follow the doctors’ leads.
Management has not established a specific return date. Given the nature of a skull fracture and subsequent cranial surgery, medical clearance dictates the entire recovery process.
Defensive Pairing Plans and Special Teams Adjustments
Faber was slated to start the season alongside Quinn Hughes on what projects as one of the league’s top defensive pairs. Last season, Faber logged an average of 24:41 of ice time per game, second on the team only to Hughes, while leading the squad in short-handed ice time at 2:24 per night. He also registered 15 goals and 36 assists for 51 points across 80 regular-season games.
Coach John Hynes explained that the team cannot replace Faber with one skater, requiring a collective effort to absorb his minutes.
- Captain Jared Spurgeon takes Faber’s spot on the power-play unit and has stepped in alongside Quinn Hughes in practice pairings.
- Daemon Hunt and Zach Bogosian are slated to share penalty-kill responsibilities in Faber’s absence.
Impact on the Locker Room Ahead of the Season Opener
Teammates emphasized that the primary concern transcends hockey. Quinn Hughes, who captured a gold medal alongside Faber with Team USA at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina, reflected on the emotional weight of the situation.
Forward Matt Boldy noted that every team goes through injuries and expressed hope that the adversity can push other roster members to elevate their game as the Wild prepare to open their regular-season schedule on the road against the Nashville Predators.