ST. PAUL — The Minnesota Wild have been without Jared Spurgeon and Jonas Brodin for the past five and six games, respectively. In normal circumstances, when a team loses its two top defenseman to week-to-week injuries, this could be catastrophic and potentially season-altering.
But there's nothing normal about having a 21-year-old rookie defenseman like Brock Faber step up with so much ease, confidence in their absences. He patrols the blue line like a veteran defender would rather than a rookie with 33 regular season games under his belt.
The Wild have won four of five games without their longtime blueliners in large part because of how Faber has admirably held down the fort defensively. Not only has he been their minute-munching defenseman, but he's been their top defender during this stretch and arguably their saving grace.
The Wild’s 4-3 overtime win over the Montreal Canadiens on home ice on Thursday was the latest example of that.
Faber played a career-high 33:25 in the win — the highest time on ice total by any player so far this season in the NHL and the third most for a NHL rookie since the 2000-01 campaign. He also became the first rookie in franchise history to play more than 30 minutes in three games in a single season.
And he didn’t just give the Wild quantity as he finished the game with a goal, an assist and seven shot attempts. With the game tied at two apiece, Faber scored the go-ahead goal with 11:03 left in the third period, a shot from the middle that beat Sam Montembeault blocker side.
In the five games without both Spurgeon and Brodin, Faber has eclipsed 30 minutes in four of those games:
Dec. 14 vs Flames: 30:08
Dec. 16 vs Canucks: 31:34
Dec. 19 vs Bruins: 30:09
Dec. 21 vs Canadiens: 33:25
“His minutes will get lessened obviously when you get players back,” head coach John Hynes said. “I don't think Brodes and Spurge are going to be out too, too long. So right now you have to find ways in the situation you're in, but when those two guys come back, it's gonna give Brock the opportunity to play a little bit more normal minutes.”
How does Faber manage this?
“Caffeine,” he said, “(and) there's obviously a lot of adrenaline, too. … Hydrate, eat and get as much sleep as I can. I played minutes like this in college. And with guys out, you've got to step up. I'm grateful that they've trusted me with these big minutes. Obviously I hope to just keep it rolling.”
There’s a reason why Faber has the trust of the coaching staff.
He’s earned it with his play, and he continues to thrive in his rookie season. Faber’s 24:38 average time on ice leads NHL rookies and his +12 rating is tied for first. Between the Maple Grove native’s defensive prowess and 16 points through 31 games, Faber is making an early case for the Calder Trophy.
That’s especially true since he’s become an all-situations threat.
With Faber on the ice at five-on-five, the Wild have outscored the opposition 30-19 with 53.61 percent of the expected goal share, according to Natural Stat Trick.
“The best defensemen in the league have the ability to play on both sides of the puck, and I think that his offensive game has grown,” Hynes said of Faber.
“But defensively as a defenseman, you are called upon to play in the hard areas of the ice and to be physical and he has the skating and … a man's body. He's able to play in the physical areas at this level and not just play them, (but) he can command the battles that he gets into.”