Brock Faber out indefinitely after skull fracture in Wild preseason loss

Minnesota Wild defenseman Brock Faber is sidelined indefinitely after sustaining a skull fracture during the team's preseason finale against the Dallas Stars. General Manager Bill Guerin confirmed on Tuesday that the 24-year-old underwent successful surgery over the weekend following an incident where a shot from Dallas' Miro Heiskanen struck Faber in the head.

The injury occurred on Friday night when the Wild hosted the Stars for their final tune-up before the regular season begins. Although the Stars won the game 2-1, the focus shifted to the physical impact of Heiskanen's shot. Guerin reported that Faber, a Minnesota native and Team USA Olympic gold medalist, is recovering well after the procedure, but there is currently no timetable for his return to action.

The absence of Faber creates a significant void in Minnesota's defensive structure. He serves as part of an all-American top defense pair with Quinn Hughes, a pairing that logs heavy ice time and drives offensive play. Both players also quarterback separate power-play units for the Wild. With Faber out, veteran Jared Spurgeon is expected to assume responsibilities for both power-play units. While Spurgeon is a solid veteran, he does not generate offense in the same manner as Faber did last season.

The timing of the injury is particularly difficult for the Wild, who are set to open their regular season on Thursday against the Nashville Predators. The team finished third in the Central Division last season, behind the Stars and the Colorado Avalanche, and eliminated by Colorado in the second round of the playoffs. Minnesota expects to make another playoff run this year, potentially aiming to be a stronger Stanley Cup contender, but that objective will be more challenging with Faber unable to contribute.