The Minnesota Wild have already gotten the kind of early-season news that can change a team’s outlook: Brock Faber is cleared to play and practicing again after the skull fracture he suffered in the final preseason game. Considering how scary that injury looked, the fact that he may not be out beyond Christmas is reason enough for relief.
And yet the Wild’s start without him makes the whole conversation more interesting. Minnesota is 11-3-3 even without Faber, and the numbers back up the record.
The Wild own the third-best 5-on-5 goal share and the fourth-best expected goal share without him in the lineup. So when Faber returns, the question isn’t just when he’ll be back.
It’s how Minnesota should use him.
For most people, the answer is obvious: put him with Quinn Hughes. That pairing has long felt like the natural move, especially after the two showed strong chemistry last season.
There’s already a sense that the Wild have seen what Hughes can do when a key connection grows over time, too. The fit between Hughes and Kirill Kaprizov was awkward at first, but now Kaprizov is on pace for a 60-goal season.
Faber and Hughes looked like a cleaner match from the start.
Still, the Wild may not need to rush that reunion. Hughes has not exactly been waiting around for Faber to save him.
In fact, he’s playing like a defenseman determined to win the Conn Smythe Trophy in October. Only Evan Bouchard has more points among defensemen than Hughes, whose 30 points put him in a tie with healthy stars like David Pastrnak, Matthew Tkachuk, Tim Stützle, and Clayton Keller.
The raw production is one thing. The way Hughes is controlling games is another.
He’s carrying a massive workload and still bending the ice toward Minnesota. At 5-on-5, the Wild are outscoring opponents 21-10 when he’s on the ice, and they’re controlling 61.7% of the expected goal share.
For nearly 28 minutes a night, Hughes has been turning Minnesota into something close to a superteam.
What makes that even more striking is that he hasn’t had a regular partner to lean on. Jared Spurgeon opened the season in Faber’s spot, but injuries have limited him to 10 games.
When Spurgeon has been unavailable, Jonas Brodin has shifted over to the right side. None of that has slowed Hughes down much at all.
That’s why the obvious pairing may not be the only smart one. Faber looked more aggressive offensively when he played with Hughes last season, and the Wild have to decide whether they want to recreate that chemistry immediately or see if Faber can keep that added edge while driving a second pair against easier matchups.
If he can, Minnesota’s blue line gets even scarier. Hughes can keep playing 28 minutes a night without looking worn down.
Faber can handle 24. Put that together, and the Wild could have 52 minutes a game with a top-15 defenseman on the ice.
No other Stanley Cup contender can offer that kind of spread.
There’s still a case for bringing the two back together, though. Hughes has been clear about how much he likes playing with Faber, and that matters when Minnesota is trying to keep a pending free agent in the fold. It’s a harder pitch if Hughes spends the season away from Faber even after he’s healthy.
And then there’s the other side of the equation: Brodin and Spurgeon are a top-level defensive pair when they’re both available. That would allow Hughes and Faber to attack, push the pace, and pile up offense while trusting the shutdown duo behind them.
That’s the kind of problem teams want. The Wild now have to decide whether they’d rather load up the ice with talent for almost half the game or spread it around for all 60 minutes.
In Other News...
Stars Face A Tough Blue Line Test Without Miro Heiskanen
The Stars are headed into another game with their blue line still in flux, and Miro Heiskanens status only adds to the uncertainty. The defenseman is listed as doubtful against San Jose because of an upper-body injury, after already sitting out the previous game, when Thomas Harley and Nils Lundkvist were pushed into the top pairing.
For Minnesota, the injury picture has its own ripple effects. The Wild have been waiting on the Foligno brothers, Nick and Marcus, as they work back from upper-body injuries, and their potential return would give the lineup a needed boost. Around the league, John Tavares is also expected back for Toronto after a nine-game absence, a reminder of how quickly injury news can shift the look of a team from one night to the next. [Read more 🡒]
Wild Give A Familiar Forward Another Chance To Stick
Mason Shaw is getting another look from the organization that has already given him his NHL chances, with Wild general manager Bill Guerin announcing the forwards recall from Iowa on Friday. Shaw has been a steady presence for the Iowa Wild as their captain and has produced 10 points in 11 games this season, putting himself back in the conversation after opening the year in the American Hockey League.
For Minnesota, the move brings back a familiar depth option with NHL experience only in a Wild sweater, the kind of call-up that reflects both trust and need. The Iowa Wild also made a corresponding move of their own, bringing in Blake Biondi from the Jacksonville Icemen, as the club continues to juggle its roster at both levels. [Read more 🡒]
Wild Create A New Lineup Question Before Tonights Game
The Wild added a fresh wrinkle to their lineup picture before facing the Sharks later tonight, with general manager Bill Guerin bringing up forward Mason Shaw from Iowa. Shaw has been one of the more reliable pieces for the Wilds AHL affiliate, where he has worn the captains letter and produced offense at a steady clip while also giving Minnesota a familiar option with NHL experience already on his rsum.
For a team still sorting through its best mix on the fly, Shaws recall creates another decision point as game time approaches. Minnesota does not have long to settle on how it wants to use him, but the move at least gives the Wild a player who knows the organization and has handled a leadership role in the minors, which can matter when a roster needs a quick answer. [Read more 🡒]