"He's incredible," Wild's fantastic first-year defenseman said of Blackhawks and NHL's leading rookie scorer.

Minnesota first-year defenseman Brock Faber had nothing but praise for Blackhawks and NHL rookie leading scorer Connor Bedard.

Even though the Wild had just shut down Bedard and Chicago in a 4-0 win at the United Center on Sunday. 

"Obviously, it's awesome to see," Faber said. "He's a superstar. He's incredible.

"Playing against him, you gotta' know where he is on the ice every time he steps on the ice. He's that good."

But when it comes to keeping an eye on the race for this season's Calder Trophy, Faber says, "Oh, no, no no" even if he and Bedard are the leading candidates .

"But other than that, I'm not focused on any of the Calder stuff," Faber said. "I'm just focused on winning games and, again, just putting my best foot forward."

Different Players

Bedard leads all first-year players with 22 goals and 59 points in 63 games. But the Wild held him to one shot on a goal and three total shot attempts on Sunday as it swept the season-series from Chicago 3-0 and outscored the Blackhawks 10-2.

Minnesota limited Bedard to one assist in two games. He missed a 2-1 loss on Feb. 7 while he was out 14 games with a broken jaw.

Bedard is a crafty, slithery center. Faber is a solidly-built, minutes-eating defenseman whose 25:01 of ice time per game leads Minnesota.

They're both standouts, but couldn't be more different. It's impossible to compare them.

Different Paths To The NHL

Bedard's path to the NHL has been pretty direct.

Heralded as hockey's "next generational talent," the North Vancouver, British Columbia was drafted first overall in 2023 by the Blackhawks. He jumped right in as Chicago's top center at age 18 in the fall.

Besides in goals and points, Bedard leads rookies with 199 shots in 62 games. That's despite some fits, starts and on-the-job lessons with a rebuilding team — including missing 14 games with a broken jaw.

Bedard is a minus-38, albeit on a club with a minus-99 goal differential.

The sturdy Faber has followed a different course. He's 21, but looks, is built and carries himself like a more-experienced NHLer.

From the Twin Cities suburb of Maple Grove, Minnesota, Faber played in the U.S. National Development program, not Minnesota high school leagues as a teen.

Then it was on to the University of Minnesota for three seasons before turning pro with the Wild after the Gophers 2022-23 campaign ended.

"The National Development Team program, you get thrown into uncomfortable situations kind of right away as a 15- 16-year-old kid, playing against guys that are bigger, older and stronger," Faber said. "Playing with the Gophers, the same thing. Playing in front of big crowds and playing big important games against guys that are older than you or physically bigger than you, whatever it is.

"Those definitely prepared me and allowed me to just be able to play my game this year."

Faber's draft spot and rights were kicked around before Los Angeles selected him in the second round in 2020 with the 45th selection. The Kings traded him in June 2022 with a first-round pick in the 2022 draft to the Wild for forward Kevin Fiala.

Faber has seven goals and 36 assists in 77 games. He's a plus-2 on a team with a minus-9 goals differential.