Brock Faber Bio
Brock Faber (born August 22, 2002) is an American professional ice hockey defenseman for the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League (NHL). Faber was drafted 45th overall by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2020 NHL entry draft. He began his professional career in 2022 and has quickly become known for his strong defensive skills and ability to contribute offensively. Faber has made significant achievements early in his career including being named to various All-Big Ten teams and breaking rookie records with the Wild.
Early Life and Background
Brock Faber was born on August 22, 2002, in Maple Grove, Minnesota, United States. Growing up as a fan of his home state Minnesota Wild, Faber developed his passion for hockey at a young age in the hockey-rich state of Minnesota. He attended the University of Minnesota for his collegiate career, playing for the Gophers hockey program. Faber was recognized as an outstanding defensive player during his college years, earning multiple conference honors before turning professional.
Path to Professional Hockey
Faber began his collegiate journey at the University of Minnesota during the 2020-21 season. As a freshman, he recorded one goal and 11 assists in 27 games, demonstrating his potential as a two-way defenseman. His strong performance earned him a spot on the All-Big Ten Freshman Team. During his sophomore season in 2021-22, Faber continued to develop his game, recording two goals and 11 assists in 28 games. His exceptional defensive play and leadership qualities led to him being named to the All-Big Ten First Team and earning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honors.
Brock Faber Career
University of Minnesota (2020-2023)
Returning to the Gophers for his junior year, Faber was named team captain for the 2022-23 season. He recorded four goals and 27 points through 38 games, leading Minnesota to the NCAA Championship game. Following an overtime defeat by Quinnipiac in the championship, Faber concluded his collegiate career having established himself as one of the top defensemen in college hockey.
Minnesota Wild Breakthrough (2023-Present)
Faber was drafted in the second round, 45th overall, by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2020 NHL entry draft. On June 29, 2022, Faber’s NHL rights were traded by the Kings, along with a 2022 first-round selection, to the Minnesota Wild for Kevin Fiala. On April 9, 2023, Faber was signed by the Wild to a three-year, entry-level contract and immediately joined the playoff-bound roster. Faber scored his first NHL goal on October 12, 2023, in a 2-0 victory over the Florida Panthers.
During his rookie season in 2023-24, Faber appeared in all 82 games for the Wild and recorded eight goals and 39 assists. His 39 assists were tied with Connor Bedard for most among rookies, while his 47 points were tied with Luke Hughes for second most among rookies. He led all rookies in ice time per game at 24 minutes and 58 seconds and led rookies in blocked shots with 150. He set single-season franchise records for assists, points, blocked shots, and time on ice by a rookie defenseman. His total time on ice of 2,047 minutes and 53 seconds was the highest single-season figure by a rookie since the statistic began being recorded in 1997-98. Following the season, he was named a finalist for the Calder Memorial Trophy and named to the NHL All-Rookie Team.
Minnesota Wild Era (2024-Present)
On July 29, 2024, the Wild signed Faber to an eight-year, $70 million contract extension, securing their franchise defenseman for the long term. During the 2024-25 season, Faber was ranked fifth overall in the NHL and averaged 25 minutes and 31 seconds in ice time per game, establishing himself among the league’s elite defensemen. His continued development and consistent performance made him an integral part of the Wild’s defensive core.
During the 2025-26 season, Faber became the fastest defenseman in Minnesota Wild history to reach 50 points in a season. He recorded 15 goals and 35 assists through 74 games, achieving the milestone in March 2026. He scored his first playoff goal on April 20 during the Wild’s first-round series against the Dallas Stars, scoring during 4-on-4 play in the first period.
Driving Style and Strengths
Faber is known for his exceptional two-way play, combining strong defensive positioning with the ability to contribute offensively. His high hockey IQ allows him to read plays effectively and make smart decisions with the puck. Faber excels in his own zone while maintaining the ability to join the offensive rush and create scoring chances. His endurance and conditioning enable him to log heavy minutes game after game, often leading all players in ice time.
Notable Events and Milestones
Faber’s career has been marked by rapid progression and record-setting achievements. His rookie season saw him break multiple franchise records for a rookie defenseman. His eight-year, $70 million extension with Minnesota made him one of the highest-paid defensemen in the league and solidified his role as a cornerstone player for the franchise. His ability to reach 50 points faster than any other defenseman in Wild history highlights his unique combination of defensive reliability and offensive production.
Brock Faber Career Wins
Throughout his collegiate and professional career, Faber has accumulated notable achievements across multiple levels of competition. His college career included conference championship runs and an NCAA Championship game appearance. In the NHL, his rookie season resulted in a Calder Trophy finalist selection and All-Rookie Team honors.
International Highlights
Faber represented the United States junior team at the 2021 World Junior Championships, where he recorded five assists in seven games and won a gold medal. He again represented the United States at the 2022 World Junior Championships, appearing in one game before the tournament was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On January 13, 2022, Faber was named to the United States senior team roster for the 2022 Winter Olympics, where he recorded one assist in four games. He was named to the 2025 4-Nations roster where he recorded two assists in four games. On January 2, 2026, he was named to the United States team roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics, playing in all six games and contributing a goal and an assist.
Collegiate and Junior Honors
During his three seasons at the University of Minnesota, Faber established himself as one of the top defensemen in college hockey. He earned All-Big Ten Freshman Team honors in 2020-21, followed by All-Big Ten First Team and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2021-22. His junior season saw him serve as team captain while leading the Gophers to the NCAA Championship game.
Brock Faber Family
Personal Life
Faber grew up as a fan of his home state Minnesota Wild, dreaming of playing for the franchise one day. That dream became reality when he was traded to Minnesota and eventually signed by the Wild. In July 2025, Faber served as the Alumni Ambassador for the US National Junior team during their Summer Showcase at the request of head coach Bob Motzko. He joined fellow players Drew Helleson, Matthew Knies, and Jackson LaCombe to speak to the team about their experiences representing the United States internationally.
2025 Season Performance
The 2024-25 season marked Faber’s second full NHL campaign and saw him emerge as one of the top defensemen in the entire league. His ranking at fifth overall among all NHL defensemen reflected his consistent excellence on both ends of the ice. Averaging over 25 minutes of ice time per game, Faber became one of the most relied-upon players on the Wild roster, playing in all situations including power plays, penalty kills, and critical late-game moments.
Faber’s partnership with the Wild coaching staff continued to develop as he took on increased responsibility in the locker room and on the ice. His leadership qualities, first displayed during his collegiate career as team captain, began to translate to the professional level. The eight-year contract extension signed in July 2024 provided both Faber and the Wild with long-term stability, allowing the organization to build their defensive core around their young star.
Looking ahead, Faber’s trajectory suggests continued growth and increasing importance to the Wild franchise. As he enters his prime years, the Minnesota native appears poised to become one of the NHL’s premier defensemen while leading the Wild on multiple deep playoff runs. His combination of skill, work ethic, and passion for the game, developed growing up in Minnesota’s hockey culture, positions him as a cornerstone player for the franchise for years to come.