Segment 2: Ryan Kennedy and Michael Traikos pick the NHL's top rookie, defensive forward, sportsmanlike star and coach so far in 2023-24. Brock Faber [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjA0Mjg0Mzg3ODAwNDU4ODky/faber1_1500x1000.jpg] Brock Faber Homegrown Brock Faber is proving to be a minute-munching machine for the Minnesota Wild, while teammate Marco Rossi's return from a heart condition has been nothing short of remarkable. Both Wild rookies are featured front and center on The Hockey News' Rookie Issue, now available for free at THN.com/free. [https://thehockeynews.store/products/print-subscription?variant=40484909973638] And for more Minnesota Wild coverage, check out The Hockey News' Wild site [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/minnesota-wild/]. STAY AT HOME DEFENSEMAN Minnesota born-and-bred Brock Faber is playing more than any other NHL rookie, and he’s putting up points, too. And while the Calder Trophy depends on the health of you-know-who, don’t forget about the two-way D-man with elite mobility and hockey smarts. Take a look at the list of NHL ice-time leaders this season, and you’ll see a lot of familiar faces: Drew Doughty, John Carlson, Cale Makar and so on. But sandwiched right between Rasmus Dahlin and Kris Letang is a new name: Minnesota rookie Brock Faber. At just 21, Faber was playing 24:47 per game through mid-January, and when the Wild needed him most, he was sometimes on the ice for literally half the game, as he had already done five times this year. And you don’t get to play more than 30 minutes in a contest without doing something right. While Faber was also vying for the lead among freshmen blueliners in scoring, perhaps even more impressive is the work he does in shutting down the opposition. The Wild have been dominating opponents at 5-on-5 when Faber is on the ice, scoring significantly more goals than they surrender. Simply put, this is a young man with a special set of tools. “You love his feet, right?” said Brad Bombardir, Minnesota’s director of player development. “Because his feet drive his game. Great legs. He closes on guys really quickly, and that’s how he can defend so well. He can get to loose pucks quickly and win those 50-50 puck battles. But he also has a really good hockey mind. He has a really good feel for the game and a good rhythm to his game, too. Those are the things we appreciate about him.” Faber has played 30 minutes on some nights, and the Wild win battles when he's on the ice. [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjA0Mjg0Mzg3ODAwMzkzMzU2/faber2_1500x1000.jpg] Faber has played 30 minutes on some nights, and the Wild win battles when he's on the ice. Born and raised in Minnesota, Faber is living every kid’s dream right now. And while he was originally destined for sunny California, it’s hard to imagine what this season would have been like for the Wild without him. Faber was drafted in the second round (45th overall) by the Los Angeles Kings in 2020 and would have been a great fit in their lineup eventually, but a star scorer was too tempting to pass up. Kevin Fiala was acquired by the Kings from Minnesota in the summer of 2022, and the price was Faber and a first-round pick (Liam Ohgren, who just won silver with Sweden at the world juniors). He was still at the University of Minnesota at the time, and needless to say, he was surprised. “Yeah, I was,” he said. “Being traded to my hometown team is something I’m so grateful for. I grew up watching the Wild and going to their games all the time. It was two great scenarios. I was so happy with L.A., and how much time they spent with me was awesome.” For a kid who grew up in the suburb of Maple Grove, his NHL team was now just a short drive from home. And the Xcel Energy Center was also just a few miles away from where he lived while playing for the Golden Gophers in college. Faber did make a detour for a couple years, however, leaving Minnesota for the slightly less-frigid expanses of Michigan, where he played for USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program. “Playing at the NTDP helped me take a huge step defensively,” he said. “I was actually a forward growing up, but I went there and really learned how to play defense thanks to the coaches and the program they have set up. It’s something I’ve always taken pride in.” “I’ve been a Wild fan my whole life, so being able to play for the hometown team is a dream come true for sure.” - Brock Faber On top of an exemplary NCAA career that included two straight trips to the Frozen Four – including a gut-punch overtime loss to Quinnipiac in last year’s championship game – Faber also had one of the most special experiences possible in hockey when he suited up for Team USA at the 2022 Olympics in Beijing. Since the pandemic was still raging, NHL players did not participate, and instead, the Americans sent a cohort of youngsters mixed with non-NHL veterans to play in a bubble in China. Faber’s teammates included other young guns such as Toronto’s Matthew Knies (who also played with him on the Gophers) and Seattle’s Matty Beniers. “It was a really cool experience for all of us, something you dream of as a kid,” Faber said. “To be able to go to a place like Beijing that is so different than where you’re from, it was just really cool to see and experience. Would have liked a different outcome (the U.S. lost to Slovakia in the quarterfinal), but I learned a ton. That was my first experience playing some grown-up hockey. College and world juniors is such a high level, but playing there was a whole different level of physicality and speed and skill, and every guy is so smart. It helped me take a step in my game, that’s for sure. It helped me realize what it takes to play at the next level.” Now, we are seeing that next level. Not to grind the point into the ground too far, but Faber’s ability to defend in the NHL at his age is simply incredible. Talk to those who know the game and they’ll point out that when Faber is defending a rush, his skates always remain firmly straight, which forces the puck-carrier to make the first move. This game of chicken gives Faber the advantage because eventually the attacker either runs out of space, gets caught by the backchecker or has to commit to a lane. And when they do, Faber’s fast feet are there to put him in position to neutralize, much like vintage Marc-Edouard Vlasic or Jaccob Slavin. Toss in the ice time and you’ve got quite the story. “I don’t even know how to explain it, to be honest,” Bombardir said. “It’s incredible. Again, it’s about his feet and legs, and that’s his energy, plus his intelligence, how he gets around the ice. He can save some energy to be able to play those minutes. He does a really good job staying in the right spots, too, and not getting overextended on the ice. It’s really tough to explain what he’s been able to do while playing that amount of minutes.” Brock Faber [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjA0Mjg0Mzg3ODAwNTI0Njg1/faber3_1500x1000.jpg] Brock Faber It has still been a challenge, of course. The NCAA schedule is famously practice-heavy and game-light, so 82 games is going to be a lot for Faber, who got an NHL taste in two games with the Wild last year after the Gophers were done. He’s doing everything he can to prepare for the second half, taking his supplements and loading up on all the best proteins, fruits and vegetables that an NHL franchise can provide. “Going into my first real NHL season, you try to prepare yourself as much as you can, but you don’t really know what to expect,” he said. “The longer the season goes on, I try to get better with my habits and sleep. Rest, recovery, diet. It all goes into it. I’m learning as I go and learning from the guys that came before me and watching what they do.” And even someone as defensively advanced as Faber has met his match on occasion this season. “(Connor) McDavid, obviously,” he said. “He’s on a whole other level, that’s for sure. He’s a challenge every time you play him, and we weren’t able to shut him down.” Which, hey, is understandable. But as the Wild attempt to survive in the murderous Central Division, they can at least be confident that the future continues to look bright thanks to youngsters such as Faber, Marco Rossi and Matt Boldy. The fact Faber is Minnesota-bred is just the cherry on top, even if it means extra pressure. “It’s incredible for me and my family,” he said. “I’ve been a Wild fan my whole life, so being able to play for the hometown team is a dream come true for sure. A lot of family and friends come to each game, and I have to say no to some people. I’m always getting texts for tickets. It’s a challenge but one I’m thankful for. It’s a good problem to have, for sure.” Faber’s calm under such pressure has been noted by the team’s brass, too. “It’s a great story, and I know he enjoys playing in Minnesota,” Bombardir said. “What I’ve been really impressed with is that it’s not easy for young guys to play in the places they grew up, especially that being the first stop in their NHL career. It’s a testament to his maturity, focus and character that he’s been able to do that while having a tremendous amount of success. It’s not easy to do, and it shows his character. It’s driven him to have a great start to his career.” With Connor Bedard missing months due to a broken jaw, what seemed to be a sewn-up Calder Trophy race is now wide open. A number of forwards will have a chance to catch up to Bedard, but Faber’s combination of points and defensive usage make him a front-runner. Either way, he’s already turned heads in Minnesota. “He’s a great guy and fun to be around,” Rossi said. “On the ice, he’s such a good skater. So powerful. He plays almost 30 minutes a game, which is crazy, and I’m happy for him. And he’s so smart. He knows exactly where the puck is going to be.” And to think, this is only the beginning of Faber’s NHL adventure. Marco Rossi [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjA0Mjg0Mzg3ODAwMzkzNjEz/rossi1_1500x1000.jpg] Marco Rossi WORTH THE WAIT Marco Rossi overcame a health scare after being drafted ninth overall in 2020, and now he’s repaying the Wild for their patience. Cheering for Marco Rossi is easy. The gifted Austrian center was one of the most talented players in the 2020 draft class, and Minnesota did well in plucking him ninth overall. But a brutal health scare during the pandemic, in which he battled the heart condition known as myocarditis, put everything in jeopardy for the youngster. Thankfully, he made it back to athletic form eventually, but his breakout in the NHL took longer than originally anticipated. That breakthrough is now. Recovering from his health shock was hard, but Minnesota was willing to be patient. “Of course it bothered him, and I think it bothered him for a while even when he was back,” said Brad Bombardir, director of player development for the Wild. “It took some time, and that’s all it is. Trying to play in the NHL for a young guy is tough. It’s tough for guys in incredible shape who are ready to roll, so he had a couple extra challenges to get through. And he did it. Most of the time, you have to be patient with young guys because it’s a tough league to break into, and he's proving that being patient is starting to pay off.” Rossi also had a big summer. After playing for Austria at the World Championship, he went home for 10 days but then came back to Minnesota, where he trained the rest of the off-season. “It was a huge summer for me,” he said. “I improved a lot. Matt Harder is our strength coach, and Andy Ness is our skills coach, and they both did an unreal job with me. I was working out with Brock, and it was nice to be around him and the other guys.” Rossi has been honing in on his consistency, something he believes is key to maintaining an NHL standard for a schedule that is basically a game every other night, give or take. From faceoffs to shooting more and creating chances, he’s looking at the total package. “He’s really finding his groove this year, and he deserves it,” Faber said. “He worked to get bigger, stronger and faster and found his confidence. He’s a huge reason why, even with injuries and losing struggles, we still have a chance to get back on the right side of things. He’s been great, and it’s really cool to see.” Marco Rossi [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjA0Mjg0Mzg3ODAwNDU5MTQ5/rossi2_1500x1000.jpg] Marco Rossi Faber also lauded Rossi for his work ethic during those sessions, and that’s something the Wild brass saw as well in the summer. The player who tallied just one point in 19 NHL games last year was suddenly all over the scoresheet. “He was laser-focused, and that’s just him, he pays attention to every detail,” Bombardir said. “He knew that he did the work and knew he was prepared, so he built his confidence that way. So, when he got onto the ice, he knew he was quicker and stronger, which allowed him to have a good start to the season.” Dating back to his days in junior with the OHL’s Ottawa 67’s, Rossi has always been an offensive threat. He was the OHL’s most outstanding player in 2019-20 after posting 120 points in just 56 games, which was the highest of anyone in major junior. And the responsible side of his game meant he could be counted on defensively, too. “He sees the game quickly, and he can move pucks quickly,” Bombardir said. “When he has the puck on his stick, he can make things happen. So, when he gets it, he makes his play because he knows his options. That’s a special part of his game.” Rossi has been one of the top rookie scorers in the league this year, and with Connor Bedard on the shelf with a broken jaw, the Wild center had a chance to make up serious ground. Now, Rossi will continue to drive. The prospect we anticipated is blossoming in front of our eyes, and for a Minnesota team in need of more weapons, it’s welcome news. Just don’t expect him to be satisfied yet. “It’s really nice to play for the team and the fans,” Rossi said. “My season is going pretty good. I’m pretty happy. Though I’m a guy that’s never really too happy. I always want to get better and improve. But I’m pretty happy.” THN.com/free [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAwNTg5MzM3NTA5NzY2MjUy/my-thn-ad-banner-1500x150.jpg] THN.com/free
