Minnesota Wild defenseman Brock Faber is recovering at home after undergoing surgery for a fractured skull, general manager Bill Guerin said Tuesday. There is no timetable for his return.
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Faber, 24, was struck near the left side of his head by a puck during the second period of Friday's NHL preseason game against the Stars. He went down briefly, then skated to the bench on his own. He returned for another shift and finished the period before being removed from the game and taken to a hospital, according to the NHL.
Guerin said Faber's surgery Sunday was successful and that he is doing well. The team will follow his doctors' guidance before providing an update on when he might play again.
"He just had a serious surgery and an injury, so we're just gonna update you guys when the time's right," Guerin said, according to the New York Post.
Asked why Faber remained in the game after the impact, Guerin said he initially appeared OK, but the situation changed as time passed and the team pulled him.
Faber is one of Minnesota's most important defensemen. He recorded 15 goals and 36 assists in 80 games last season and helped the United States win gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics. The Wild open their regular season Thursday at Nashville.
His absence will affect the lineup. Guerin said the team's focus is on Faber's recovery: "Sometimes you just have to put the hockey aside and worry about the human being."
