Brock Faber Explained

Brock Faber
Birth Date:22 August 2002
Birth Place:Maple Grove, Minnesota, U.S.
Height Ft:6
Height In:1
Weight Lb:200
Position:Defense
Shoots:Right
League:NHL
Team:Minnesota Wild
Ntl Team:USA
Draft:45th overall
Draft Year:2020
Draft Team:Los Angeles Kings
Career Start:2022

Brock Faber (born August 22, 2002) is an American professional ice hockey defenseman for the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League (NHL). Faber was drafted 45th overall by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career

College

During the 2020–21 season, his freshman year, Faber recorded one goal and 11 assists in 27 games for the University of Minnesota. Following the season, he was named to the All-Big Ten Freshman Team.[1] [2]

During the 2021–22 season, his sophomore year, Faber recorded two goals and 11 assists in 28 games for Minnesota. Following the season, he was named to the All-Big Ten First Team and was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.[3]

Returning to the Gophers for his junior year, Faber was named as team captain for the 2022–23 season. He recorded four goals and 27 points through 38 games, helping the Gophers reach the NCAA Championship game. Following an overtime defeat by Quinnipiac, Faber concluded his collegiate career.

Professional

Faber was drafted in the second round, 45th overall, by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft.[4] On June 29, 2022, Faber's NHL rights were traded by the Kings, along with a 2022 first-round selection, to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for Kevin Fiala.[5] [6]

On April 9, 2023, Faber was signed by the Minnesota Wild to a three-year, entry-level contract and immediately joined the roster of the playoff-bound Wild.[7]

Faber scored his first NHL goal on October 12, 2023, in a 2–0 victory over the Florida Panthers.[8] In January 2024, he led all rookies in points and assists, and was named Rookie of the Month.[9] He ultimately appeared in all 82 games for the Wild and recorded eight goals and 39 assists during the season. His 39 assists were tied with Connor Bedard for most assists among rookies, while his 47 points were tied with Luke Hughes for second most points among rookies. He led rookies in ice time per game (24:58) and blocked shots (150) and was first among rookie defenseman in shots on goal (136) and even-strength points (31), and second to Hughes in power-play points (16). He set single-season franchise records for assists, points, blocked shots, and time on ice by a rookie defenseman. His total time on ice, 2,047:53, was the highest single-season figure by a rookie since the statistic began being recorded in 1997–98. Following the season he was named a finalist for the Calder Memorial Trophy and named to the NHL All-Rookie Team.[10] [11] [12]

On July 29, 2024, the Wild signed Faber to an eight-year, $68 million contract extension.[13]

International play

Faber represented the United States junior team at the 2021 World Junior Championships, where he recorded five assists in seven games and won a gold medal.[14] He again represented the United States at the 2022 World Junior Championships, where he appeared in one game before the tournament was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[15] [16]

On January 13, 2022, Faber was named to the United States senior team's roster for the 2022 Winter Olympics.[17]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGP PIMGP G A Pts PIM
2018–19U.S. National Development TeamUSHL1 0 0 0 2
2019–20U.S. National Development TeamUSHL19 1 8 9 8
2020–21University of MinnesotaB1G27 1 11 12 14
2021–22University of MinnesotaB1G32 2 12 14 12
2022–23University of MinnesotaB1G38 4 23 27 12
2022–23Minnesota WildNHL2 0 0 0 06 0 0 0 0
2023–24Minnesota WildNational Hockey LeagueNHL82 8 39 47 26
NHL totals84 8 39 47 266 0 0 0 0

International

YearTeamEventResultGP G A Pts PIM
2021United StatesWJC7 0 5 5 0
2022United StatesOG5th4 0 1 1 2
2022United StatesWJC5th5 1 1 2 0
Junior totals12 1 6 7 0
Senior totals4 0 1 1 2

Awards and honors

AwardYearRef
College
All-Big Ten Freshman Team2021
All-Big Ten First Team2022, 2023[18]
Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year2022, 2023
AHCA West First Team All-American2023[19]
NHL
NHL All-Rookie Team2024[20]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hockey Postseason Honors Announced . https://web.archive.org/web/20210316180922/https://bigten.org/news/2021/3/16/general-hockey-postseason-honors-announced.aspx . dead . March 16, 2021 . BigTen.org . March 16, 2021 . February 20, 2022.
  2. Web site: Brock Faber shines in first NCAA season + notes on all Kings collegiate prospects . lakingsinsider.com . John . Hoven . April 27, 2021 . February 20, 2022.
  3. Web site: Meyers, Faber, Motzko Lead 'U' Big Ten Honorees . gophersports.com . March 15, 2022 . March 15, 2022.
  4. Web site: Kings prospect Brock Faber was ready to show the world his transformed game. Now he's got unfinished business . . Scott . Wheeler . January 4, 2022 . February 20, 2022.
  5. Web site: Wild acquire Faber and a first-round pick from Los Angeles for Fiala . . June 29, 2022 . June 29, 2022.
  6. Web site: Wild trades Kevin Fiala to Kings for first-rounder and Gophers' Brock Faber . . Sarah. McLellan. June 29, 2022 . June 30, 2022.
  7. Web site: Minnesota Wild signs defenseman Brock Faber . . April 9, 2023 . April 9, 2023.
  8. Web site: Myers . Jess . Myers: Brock Faber's record-setting Wild debut is about much more than eating up minutes . therinklive.com . The Rink Live . January 8, 2024 . December 22, 2023.
  9. Web site: Faber of Wild named NHL Rookie of Month for January . . February 1, 2024 . April 26, 2024.
  10. Web site: Bedard, Faber, Hughes named Calder Trophy finalists. NHL.com . David . Satriano . April 30, 2024 . April 30, 2024.
  11. Web site: Brock Faber and Marco Rossi Named to 2023-24 NHL All-Rookie Team . NHL.com . June 27, 2024 . June 27, 2024.
  12. Web site: Should Wild defenseman Brock Faber win the Calder Trophy as NHL's Rookie of the Year? . . Sarah . McLellan . June 26, 2024 . June 27, 2024.
  13. Web site: Faber signs 8-year, $68 million contract with Wild . . July 29, 2024.
  14. Web site: Players battle for World Juniors ticket . IIHF . Martin . Merk . December 9, 2020 . February 20, 2022.
  15. Web site: Gophers Trio Named to U.S. WJC Roster . gophersports.com . December 14, 2021 . January 14, 2022.
  16. Web site: World Juniors cancelled . IIHF.com . Adam . Steiss . December 29, 2021 . January 14, 2022.
  17. Web site: 2022 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team Unveiled . teamusa.com . January 13, 2022 . February 20, 2022.
  18. Web site: Hockey Postseason Honors Announced . https://web.archive.org/web/20220315161640/https://bigten.org/news/2022/3/15/general-hockey-postseason-honors-announced.aspx . dead . March 15, 2022 . Big Ten . March 15, 2022 . March 15, 2022.
  19. Web site: 2022-23 Men's CCM Hockey Division I All-Americans . ahcahockey.com . April 7, 2023 . April 8, 2023.
  20. Web site: NHL announces 2023-24 All-Rookie Team . NHL.com . June 27, 2024 . June 27, 2024.