The Minnesota Wild are going to be without key defenseman Brock Faber to start the season after he suffered a fractured skull in a preseason game against the Stars. Get this: he actually stayed in the game to finish out the period after taking a puck to the head. It’s an injury so serious the team has no timeline for his return, and GM Bill Guerin is rightly putting the human being first.
The Incident That Rocked Faber
Can you even imagine? Faber took a shot from Miro Heiskanen right near the ear during Friday’s preseason finale. The hit sent him down for a moment, and everyone watching probably held their breath. But then, incredibly, he got back up and kept playing, finishing out the second period. The game sheet originally even misidentified the shooter, but @TNTSportsUS and other reports confirmed it was Heiskanen’s blast. It wasn’t until later that the Wild got the full, horrifying news: a fractured skull. Faber has since undergone successful surgery, which is a relief, but the initial “he seemed okay” from GM Bill Guerin just shows how deceptive these kinds of injuries can be. You just never truly know the severity until the doctors step in and give the real diagnosis. It’s absolutely gut-wrenching.
A Massive Hole For The Wild
This is a massive, absolutely brutal blow for the Wild, hitting them this early in the season. Faber, only 24, was a second-round pick in 2020 but he absolutely exploded last year. He didn’t just play, he became a *key* defenseman, putting up a career-high 51 points in the 2023-24 season. And get this, the guy even played for Team USA on their road to an Olympic gold medal in February! He’s a legit, impactful talent. Now, he’s out indefinitely, and the Wild are staring down a huge, unexpected hole on their blue line right when things are getting started. It’s a tough reminder of how brutal this sport can be, and it highlights the risks these guys take every single shift. It’s no wonder that Quinn Hughes, another defenseman, is reportedly thinking about wearing ear protection after hearing about Faber. You gotta wonder if more players across the league will start considering it.
So, with Faber now on the long and uncertain road to recovery, the Wild have to figure out how to navigate the crucial early part of their season without one of their most important young players. There’s no timeline from the team, just the doctors leading the charge on his recovery, step by step. It’s a waiting game now, and every single fan out there has got to be wishing him a full and speedy return. Here’s hoping we see Brock Faber back on the ice, healthy and absolutely ready to roll, whenever that day finally comes.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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