Brock Faber along with Connor Zary, Tyson Foerster, and Samuel Ersson deserve upgrades in NHL 24
Brock Faber along with Connor Zary, Tyson Foerster, and Samuel Ersson deserve upgrades in NHL 24
Every year NHL teams have rookies come into their lineup. Most high draft picks make their splash early on, but sometimes you get a late-round pick who comes in and surprises everyone. Let us see which players have shown their worth to their respective NHL teams at the halfway point of their rookie seasons.
Brock Faber, Minnesota Wild - Defenseman - TWD
Los Angeles, 45th overall in 2020 - Acquired by Minnesota on June 29, 2022
Fresh off a three-point night and logging over 25 minutes, Brock Faber has been nothing short of spectacular for Minnesota. The Wild have dealt with injuries to their two best defensemen, Jonas Brodin, and now season-ending surgery to Jared Spurgeon. Faber has stepped up hugely, averaging 24:40 time on ice as a 21-year-old rookie. He leads rookie defensemen in scoring with 25 points.
Minnesota had to part ways with Kevin Fiala due to cap space issues, and Faber was part of the return for him. He is used in all situations and looks incredibly mature for his age.
In NHL 24, he is listed as an 81 overall which is grossly low for how well he has played. His role in the game is a "Top 6 DEF", but he should be upgraded to 84-85 overall and given the "Top 4 DEF" role. Faber is firmly in the hunt for that Calder Trophy and could win it with Bedard missing time due to his injury.
Connor Zary, Calgary Flames - Center/Left Wing - TWF
Calgary, 24th overall in 2020
Connor Zary made his NHL debut on Nov. 1 after starting the season in the AHL with the Calgary Wranglers. He scored in his debut before proceeding to rattle off nine points in his first ten games. He's showcased his offensive skills to be a dual-threat player and has some bite to his game. He's nifty handling the puck, possessing a sneaky curl-and-drag shot.
Zary started as a 74 overall rated player in NHL 24. EA has recognized his performance in the show as they've bumped him up six overalls since release. He is now a regular piece in Calgary's top nine forward group and could use another couple more bumps in his overall to get him up to an 82.
Tyson Foerster, Philadelphia Flyers - Right Wing/Center - TWF
Philadelphia, 23rd overall in 2020
Tyson Foerster gave a lasting impression in his eight-game stint with Philadelphia last season. This year, he has played in every game except for one, averaging 16:59 time on ice which is the third most amongst rookie forwards. He's put together a respectable six goals and 17 points and sits third in shots by rookies with 95.
NHL 24 has him listed as a two-way forward, but he fits the sniper player type better as he's a high-volume shooter and a scoring threat on the powerplay. He can beat goaltenders with his powerful one-timer or that lightning-quick release shown in the clip above. Foerster should be boosted to 79 overall, as a top-nine forward doesn't deserve to be a 76.
Samuel Ersson, Philadelphia Flyers - Goaltender - Hybrid
Philadelphia, 143rd overall in 2018
Samuel Ersson didn't have a hot start to the year, allowing 12 goals in his first two starts. Since then, he's recorded a .900 SV% or better in 14 of his last 17 starts. Carter Hart briefly battled a mid-body injury and plaguing illnesses, and Ersson had to step up and handle the crease. His 2.26 GAA ranks second best amongst NHL goalies with a minimum of 20 games played.
The Flyers are the surprise of the NHL this season and sit just two points back of first in the Metropolitan division. Ersson deserves some credit for that. He is listed as a "Minor Starting Goalie" at 77 overall but has proven to be a capable backup goalie. A bump up to 80 overall would be fair and reasonable.