2020 Draft: Faber looking to develop shot into weapon to round out game

Every Thursday, NHL.com will look ahead to the 2020 NHL Draft with an in-depth profile on one of its top prospects.

Brock Faber understands his strengths and weaknesses as a hockey player, and that ability to look critically at his game has helped him understand what he needs to improve moving forward in his hockey career.
Faber, a defenseman for the USA Hockey National Team Development Program Under-18 team, has focused on building his offensive skills to the same level he's already reached on the defensive end.
"I would label myself a two-way defenseman, but I'm obviously not the most flashy offensive player," he said. "I feel like I have a lot of upside in that part of my game so I'm really working on it."

Faber is skilled at transitioning the puck and has shown a willingness to join the rush, but that hasn't translated into points yet. In 42 games he had 12 points (three goals, nine assists) and 29 shots on goal. He is No. 44 on NHL Central Scouting's final ranking of North American skaters for the 2020 draft.
The draft had been scheduled for Bell Centre in Montreal on June 26-27 but was postponed March 25 due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus. No new date for the draft has been announced.
Faber believes the best way to upgrade his scoring total is to make his shot into more of a weapon.
"I know that's the one thing I most need to improve," he said. "It's a vital skill for a defenseman to be able to get to a position where he's got an angle to get the puck on the net."

Faber isn't trying to reinvent his game to look more like Brent Burns of the San Jose Sharks, one of his favorite players growing up. Burns had 45 points (12 goals, 33 assists) in 70 games this season and was second among NHL defensemen with 225 shots on goal when the NHL season was paused March 12.
Instead what Faber wants to do is develop his offensive skills as a complement to his top-end defensive play. That's why Faber is trying to pattern his game after Boston Bruins defenseman and NTDP alum Charlie McAvoy.
"I'm a huge fan of his game," Faber said. "I love the way he's always right in front of the guys he's defending and that he's such a smart, calm player. That's the way I want to play, plus he's a great skater. I think we're already similar players, so I want to improve the way he has."
NTDP U-18 coach Seth Appert is a big fan of the comparison, saying he and his staff have shown Faber video of McAvoy to encourage his progression along that line.
"Charlie isn't a great defenseman, and that was especially true when he played here," Appert said. "But he worked hard on his offensive game and turned out to be a very good pick for the Bruins, certainly one they won't ever regret. Brock is doing that same kind of work and making good progress."

McAvoy, selected by the Bruins with the No. 14 pick of the 2016 NHL Draft, had 40 points (seven goals, 33 assists) in 63 games with the NTDP U-18 team in 2014-15. This season with the Bruins, McAvoy had 32 points (five goals, 27 assists) in 67 games. He also had 101 shots on goal, his most in three NHL seasons.
That kind of a slow but steady progression is the type of path Faber said he'd like to travel as he moves to the University of Minnesota next season.
As NHL teams watch Faber focus on his offensive side, Appert hopes teams don't overlook what they will be getting at the other end of the ice.
"Brock is an incredible pure defender, as good as anyone in the world at his age," Appert said. "He's working on his offense, but he's already at a very high level on the defensive end."
Faber was disappointed that the coronavirus pandemic led to the cancelation of the 2020 IIHF World Under-18 Championship, which NTDP players spend all season building toward. But getting drafted by an NHL team will check at least one item on his hockey wish list this season.
"Getting drafted would be a dream come true," he said. "That's something I've wanted since I started playing hockey."
Photos courtesy: Rena Laverty (NTDP)
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