Wild defenseman Brock Faber out indefinitely after surgery for skull fracture

Minnesota Wild defenseman Brock Faber is out indefinitely after surgery for a skull fracture, according to an injury update the club issued Tuesday, September 29. He was struck in the head by a puck during Friday's preseason game against the Dallas Stars. The Wild have not announced a date for his return.

General manager Bill Guerin said the team would follow its doctors' guidance on a timeline. He also emphasized that Faber is doing well and that his health comes before hockey. Those are the relevant boundaries for now: surgery and an indefinite absence are confirmed; a recovery schedule is not.

NHL.com's account says Faber skated to the bench under his own power, played again in the second period and did not return for the third. His ability to continue briefly is not evidence that the injury was minor. The later diagnosis and surgery make that distinction clear.

What the Wild have confirmed

Faber had 51 points in 80 regular-season games in 2025-26. He averaged 24:41 of ice time, second on Minnesota behind Quinn Hughes, and led Wild players in short-handed ice time per game at 2:24. Those figures explain why his absence matters to the lineup without reducing a serious injury to a roster calculation.

Coach John Hynes said the club would divide Faber's responsibilities among several players rather than expect one replacement to duplicate his role. The NHL reported that Jared Spurgeon had been paired with Hughes in practice and was set to take Faber's place on the power play. Those are the team's immediate plans, not guarantees about its eventual opening-night combinations.

Minnesota is scheduled to open its regular season at Nashville on Thursday, October 1. Faber's status for that game is clear, but the length of his absence is not. Any subsequent update should come from the Wild and his medical team, rather than an inferred recovery date.