Athletic/Russo/link: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6693679/2025/10/06/brock-faber-minnesota-wild-defense/
A selection:
"Faber admitted that when his power-play time began to decrease last season, it affected his mindset. The magic number for offensive defensemen re-signing contracts this summer was $9 million-plus, in large part because Jake Sanderson’s $8.05 million, Owen Power’s $8.35 million and Faber’s $8.5 million re-set the market. But last summer, when Faber re-signed, he was well aware that his $8.5 million annually landed just under superstar Cale Makar’s current $9 million AAV and just above superstar Quinn Hughes’ current $7.85 million AAV.
“At first, yes, I think that was kind of frustrating for me a little bit because all the best defensemen and all the best players, they get a large majority of their points on the power play,” said Faber, whose power-play scoring decreased from 16 points to 10 in 2024-25. “But now I acknowledge the fact that there’s going to be guys that play power play over me, and rightly so. And I want to be able to play the penalty kill over some guys. That’s the strength of my game."
End except.
If Faber ends up as the Devon Toews or Jaccob Slavin of our defense corps, he is well worth the money. He cares a ton and I think it was pretty clear he was trying to do too much last season when the team was so beat up.
In the playoffs, despite zero points, I thought he was easily our best defenseman. Once Brodin is back I expect that pair will dominate the league defensively once more.
6 comments
I think this is a smart approach for both Faber and the Wild. If Faber can become a bigger stronger Spurgeon that would be beautiful. Let the offense come slowly as the years go by while providing elite defense.
Seems like he’s well aware of what he can control and wants to take the reigns and play his role to an elite ability. That’s what you want to hear.
What he can’t control is the amount of minutes he plays and I think a nightly reduction of a minute or so would compound over a season and allow him to have some legs at the end of the year and into playoffs.
Makar and Hughes shoot the puck. He can start with that if he wants more points. Being a defensive minded defensemen is great, but he doesn’t just have to be that if he doesn’t want to. Get in the 180+ shots territory and see how much it changes the offensive outcome while he’s on the ice. 160 shots and 160 blocks should be the goal this year with more to grow in the future.
Just about all year we had just 40% of our power play players as well
He’s looked pretty underwhelming in preseason tbh. He hasnt managed to get his stick on pucks he should several times. One was Winnipeg’s second goal in the last exhibition against them and another, iirc, was a neutral zone or blueline turnover that resulted in a rush and Grade A opportunity for a chicago forward.
Idk if hes pressing too hard or rusty but his execution hasnt been where it needs to be yet.
He’s smart on offense but not overly talented like some of the big guns. His game is in solid defense and smart play. I think he easily has a chance to be a top-5 D man in the league. But I don’t think he’ll ever be known as an offensive threat.
And I’m perfectly fine with that.