- Brock Faber practiced with the Wild for the first time since fracturing his skull in the preseason
- Doctors have cleared him, but he won’t play this weekend and his return date is a “moving target”
- Read below for the timeline from coach John Hynes and video of Faber back on the ice
Brock Faber is back on the ice with his teammates.
The Wild defenseman took part in his first practice with the team Thursday since fracturing his skull in the preseason finale. The Athletic’s Joe Smith posted video of Faber skating with the group after weeks of working out on his own.
Watch Faber at practice:
Faber won’t play this weekend, though. Smith reported that Hynes said both Faber and Jared Spurgeon will sit out. Spurgeon, who is week to week, also skated Thursday.
The more important update is the one about next week. Smith said Faber is expected to travel with the Wild on their upcoming road trip, along with Spurgeon, Marcus Foligno and goalie Filip Gustavsson.
Hynes called Faber’s return date a “moving target.” Smith reported that doctors have cleared him to play and it’s now a matter of getting his strength and conditioning to the right level after five weeks off.
Hynes said last Thursday that Faber had cleared the return-to-play protocol, which allowed him to start exercising again. Thursday’s practice with the full group is the next step after that.
This is a long way from where things stood in late September. Faber took a puck to the head in the preseason finale against Dallas and had surgery the following Sunday, and GM Bill Guerin had no timetable at the time. We had the details on the original injury when Michael Russo of The Athletic broke the news.
The Wild have been without their top-pair defenseman all season. The 24-year-old had 51 points in 80 games last year and averaged 24:41 a night.
Minnesota plays the Sharks on Friday without him. The road trip next week is the one to watch.
