Brock Faber is out indefinitely following surgery for a skull fracture sustained in preseason, NHL.com reported Tuesday.
For Minnesota, the immediate hockey question is how to distribute the work on defense. A replacement in the lineup and a replacement for every assignment are not necessarily the same player.
What to watch in the Wild’s next lineup
Start with the pairings, then look beyond them. The defenseman taking a regular shift in Faber’s place may not be the one used after a defensive-zone faceoff, on the penalty kill or late in a close game. Those decisions will show how Minnesota intends to share the workload.
Minutes alone can obscure that distinction. Twenty minutes spent mostly attacking with the puck are a different assignment from twenty minutes spent defending a lead. The opponent, the score and special teams all belong in any comparison.
There is no basis here for assigning a return date or treating an unconfirmed replacement as permanent. The next useful update is a team-confirmed change in Faber’s availability, followed by what the Wild actually do with their lineup.
Minnesota has posted Bill Guerin’s injury update. This report reflects the information available on September 30. Follow our NHL coverage for the surrounding opening-week news.
