Minnesota’s blue line faces a major void as the rising star recovers from a serious head injury, leaving the Wild without their top defenseman for the season opener.
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Minnesota Wild defenseman Brock Faber underwent surgery Sunday after suffering a skull fracture during Friday’s preseason game.
The Wild announced Tuesday that Faber suffered the fracture during Friday’s game and underwent successful surgery two days later. The team did not provide a timetable for his return to hockey and said an update will come at a later date.
Wild president of hockey operations and general manager Bill Guerin said Tuesday that Faber is doing well following the procedure, but the organization will follow the guidance of its medical staff before providing any further information on a potential return.
“He just had a serious surgery and an injury, so we’re just gonna [update] you guys when the time’s right,” Guerin said. “But he’s doing well. He’s doing really well, which is good news. And we’ll just follow the doctor’s lead.”
Faber exited Friday’s preseason game and did not return. He was then absent from practice on both Saturday and Sunday as the Wild awaited additional information on his status.
Minnesota placed Faber on injured reserve Monday ahead of the NHL’s roster deadline.
The 24-year-old defenseman has developed into one of the Wild’s most important players and is expected to once again occupy a major role on Minnesota’s blue line this season.
For now, however, hockey takes a back seat.
The Wild have not indicated how much time Faber could miss or when he could resume skating and other hockey activities. With the organization describing the injury and subsequent surgery as serious, Minnesota intends to wait for medical clearance before establishing any timeline for his return.
"Brock is a great player. He's a big player for us. It's always going to affect your team when guys like that are out,” Guerin said. “The biggest thing here is he's doing well and sometimes you have to put the hockey aide and worry about the human being."
Faber’s absence leaves the Wild without one of their top defensemen as they prepare to begin the 2026-27 regular season.
Minnesota opens its season Thursday against the Nashville Predators.
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