Brock Faber’s Return Offers Another Reason For Optimism

Image courtesy of Matt Blewett-Imagn Images By Eric Forga - 11 hours ago The Minnesota Wild celebrated a milestone Friday night, and their 4-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks also offered a glimpse of a team that might still have another gear. Behind four points from Kirill Kaprizov and three from Quinn Hughes , Minnesota earned its 1000th regular-season victory at Grand Casino Arena, extending a strong stretch as it awaits reinforcements on defense. Kaprizov scored his NHL league-leading 16th goal and added three assists, contributing to every Minnesota goal. Hughes finished with a goal and two assists, while Jesper Wallstedt stopped 23 shots to collect his league-leading 11th victory. The Wild improved to 12-3-3, winning their third consecutive game and stretching their seven-game run to 6-0-1. Minnesota’s biggest names established the tone early. With the Wild enjoying a five-on-three power play, Hughes found Kaprizov for a one-timer at 7:56 of the opening period. The goal extended Kaprizov’s point streak to seven games, a mark Hughes and Matt Boldy also reached Friday. San Jose pulled even in the second period, but Minnesota answered with another power-play goal, this time from Maxim Shabanov . Hughes and Zach Bogosian then scored in the third, turning a competitive game into a comfortable final margin. Minnesota generated the decisive offense without needing Wallstedt to face an overwhelming volume of shots. The result was especially encouraging given the players still missing from the lineup. Brock Faber , Jared Spurgeon and Filip Gustavsson remained out, yet the Wild continued accumulating victories. Their recent record suggests Minnesota’s early success has held up despite significant absences, rather than depending on a fully healthy roster. The next development could be just as important as Friday’s score: Faber has returned to practice after suffering a fractured skull when a puck struck him during a September 25 preseason game against the Dallas Stars. He has been medically cleared to play, with strength and conditioning now determining when he can return to competition. Faber is expected to accompany Minnesota on its upcoming trip to Montreal, Toronto and Boston. That doesn’t guarantee he will play on the trip. Coach John Hynes has described the return date as a “moving target,” making an imminent comeback a possibility instead of a certainty. After such a serious injury, that distinction matters. When ready, Faber is expected to reunite with Hughes on Minnesota’s top defensive pairing, not a forward line. Faber brings substantial production, recording 51 points in 80 regular-season games last season, followed by ten points in eleven playoff appearances. His return would restore an established contributor, not merely fill an empty lineup spot. The potential benefit begins with how Minnesota moves the puck. Hughes is already driving offense, as Friday’s three-point performance demonstrated. Reuniting him with another productive defenseman could give the Wild more options to start attacks, sustain possession, and connect with their skilled forwards. That’s a projection, but one grounded in both players’ offensive contributions. Faber’s availability would also give Hynes more flexibility across the defense. Restoring a top-pair player creates opportunities to redistribute assignments rather than asking the remaining group to keep covering the same absence. However, his readiness must come before expectations about immediate impact. Friday supplied the celebration: a landmark victory, another Kaprizov showcase, and continued excellence from Hughes. Faber’s progress supplies the intriguing next chapter. Minnesota is winning without its preferred defensive lineup; getting him back could strengthen a team that has already established considerable momentum. By Eric Forga Think you could write a story like this? Hockey Wilderness wants you to develop your voice, find an audience, and we'll pay you to do it. Just fill out this form . minnesota wild nhl brock faber