Brock Faber Medically Cleared, Will Miss Weekend Games But Join Wild on Road Trip

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Minnesota Wild defenseman Brock Faber is getting closer to returning to the lineup, but he won't be back in action just yet.

Wild head coach John Hynes confirmed Thursday that Faber will not play in either game of Minnesota's upcoming back-to-back this weekend. However, the defenseman is expected to accompany the team on its three-game road trip next week.

Faber has been medically cleared to return after missing five weeks, but the Wild want to make sure he is physically prepared before putting him back into game action.

"He is cleared to play medically," Hynes said. "Now it is ramping him up, getting it to the point where he is physically ready to play. So contact is part of his back-to-play protocol."

Hynes described Faber's potential return date as a "moving target," indicating that the team is taking a day-by-day approach as he works to regain his strength and conditioning.

While the medical clearance is an encouraging development, Faber still needs to build himself back up to game speed after an extended absence.

The Wild have been dealing with several injuries on their blue line and throughout their lineup, including Jared Spurgeon and the Foligno brothers.

However, there appears to be some optimism surrounding the team's upcoming road trip.

"Right now, everyone is planning to go on the trip," Hynes said Thursday when asked about Faber, Jared Spurgeon and the Foligno brothers

Although traveling with the team doesn't guarantee an immediate return to the lineup, it would allow the injured players to continue progressing toward game action.

For Faber, the biggest hurdle is no longer medical clearance but getting his body ready to handle the physical demands of NHL hockey.

The Wild will continue monitoring his progress, with a potential return during next week's road trip still a possibility.

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