'He can skate for days': Brock Faber ready for a major role on Wild's blueline this season

ST. PAUL — Brock Faber earned his reputation across the college hockey landscape as one of the best college defenders in the country during his time at the University of Minnesota. The former Gophers captain won the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Award in both 2022 and 2023 for good reason. 

After all, Faber took his assignment of defending some of the nation's most talented forwards with ease while exhibiting composure and durability in the process. 

Now, Faber is at his first NHL training camp with the Wild, which started Thursday inside Tria Rink. And when Faber wants to watch a top NHL defensive defenseman — something he and the Wild hope he becomes one day — to gain insight to help his own game as he gets accustomed to the NHL scene, he doesn't have to look far to find one. 

Faber doesn't have to find a remote or look through film of the Wild's opposition because there's arguably no better defensive defender to watch, ask advice and emulate than Jonas Brodin as Faber looks to translate his defensive acumen to hockey's biggest stage.

Brodin ranks No. 1 among NHL defenders in defensive goals above replacement over the past five seasons at 35.3, ahead of Chris Tanev and Brandon Carlo at No. 2 and 3, respectively, according to Evolving-Hockey.

“He’s obviously a pretty fun player to watch," Faber told the media Thursday. The Maple Grove native added that he's watched him for a long time as a fan of the Wild. "A player (and) person I’ve always kind of looked up to and so yeah being able to call him my D-partner even just the first day of training camp is pretty cool. Something I don’t take for granted. Just try and soak it all in and learn as much as I can from him and be the best D-partner I can.”

Faber has an adept Brodin just like the undersized Calen Addison has an accomplished Jared Spurgeon to look up to. Brodin and Faber are expected to anchor the second pair to start the season. While Faber had an impressive showing and didn't falter in the Wild's first round exit to the Dallas stars in April, he's only 21 years old and is entering his rookie season with his toughest task ahead of him: a full 82-game season against 31 other clubs. 

For Faber, having Brodin alongside of him will be beneficial for his development — especially since they have similar skillsets.

“Their skating ability, both of them," Evason said of why the duo could work as a pair this season. "We know what Brods can bring with his legs, but Fabes can do the exact same thing. But what I was really impressed today, we were really impressed today, we’ve already talked about it, is Fabes’ stick. 

"We did a lot of defensive zone stuff today. Getting that dialed in and our stick on puck and our dislodging and not allowing people to have success in the offensive zone — that’s who he is."

As impressed as Evason is of Faber defensively, he did say that Faber needs to learn to be more active offensively, noting that "you’re going to be protected so he can take some chances" when playing with Brodin. 

The duo's recipe for success will be leaning on some of their strengths: skating and mobility, stick positioning and puck recovery. Faber said communication between him and Brodin will be important as they get acquainted with each other on the ice.

Faber's goal this season is to play a major role on the blueline, and the Wild need him to do so after the departure of Matt Dumba, who signed a one-year deal in Arizona.

"A goal of mine is obviously to play a big role on this hockey team this year," Faber said of the expectations he has for himself. ... "I want to play against other team’s obviously top players and play on the penalty kill and obviously develop my game offensively even more."

Faber said getting that playoff experience and taste of the NHL gave him confidence and helped his game. 

"We saw him last year," Brodin told the media Friday, "(and) he looked like he (had) been playing for five years already in the league."

The Wild outscored the Stars 3-0 with Faber on the ice, and he finished with a 52.33 expected goals rate in all situations, according to Natural Stat Trick. If not for that, he said it would be "a whole different week leading up to this."

"He looks good," Marc-Andre Fleury said of Faber, "(and) he can skate for days. He's a big presence, a big body too. I'm sure he'll do a great job again this year.”

Faber, who attended the NHLPA Rookie Showcase in early September, spent his summer training and working on parts of his game he wanted to improve upon. And now he can put that to action at training camp as he prepares for his rookie season.

“The main goal was to get bigger, stronger and faster, mentally prepared for an 82-game season," Faber said of the offseason. "But little things I wanted to develop offensively, just be more comfortable and confident with the puck on my stick. 

I feel like I can defend really well, obviously I still need to grow in that aspect, but that’s kind of always been my bread and butter is my defending and my skating — so looking to round out my game a little more."