How acquired: Trade with Los Angeles Kings on June 29
2021-22 season: Minnesota (NCAA): 32 GP, 2-12-14
Acquired in the trade for Kevin Fiala, Faber has earned himself the top spot among defensemen in the Wild's prospect pool. The 20-year-old recently completed his sophomore season at the University of Minnesota, where he was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, and played for the United States at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, getting one assist in four games. Faber (6-1, 200) served as captain for the United States at the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship and had two points (one goal, one assist) in five games. When he was on the ice at 5-on-5, the U.S. outscored opponents 10-0, and he was only on the ice for one goal against, an empty-net goal in a 4-2 loss to Czechia in the quarterfinals.
"I just think that [Faber] was really, really high-end prospect, somebody that we think is not far away from playing at all," Wild general manager Bill Guerin said in June. "I know he's just going back for his third year at [Minnesota], but in all actuality, Brock could probably play sooner than that. But it'll be a good year for him back there and we'll cross that bridge at the end of the season. … You can never have too many defensemen."
Projected arrival: 2023-24