Faber returns to ice six weeks after skull surgery

Minnesota Wild defenseman Brock Faber skated in the morning practice on Friday. This marks his first time on the ice since sustaining a fractured skull in late September. Although he is active with the group, he will not play in the Friday night game against San Jose or the Saturday night contest against Tampa Bay. The team confirmed he will join the roster for the road trip beginning next week.

Faber suffered the injury on Sept. 25 during a preseason game. He was struck in the side of the head by a puck. He remained in the game after the initial impact, believing the pain was minor. Doctors discovered the fracture that same night following a CT scan. Faber was hospitalized immediately and underwent surgery. He spent several days recovering at Regions Hospital before being released.

Six weeks after the operation, Faber spoke publicly about his recovery timeline. He said he did not expect to be back so quickly. He cited early positive results from medical scans and meetings with doctors as the reason for his confidence. Faber stated, "I didn't really let myself think any other way. Obviously, I knew it could be a long period of time, but all the scans and meetings with the doctors were super positive early on." He added, "So I'm back. It's great."

The immediate aftermath of the hit was misleading. Faber recalled that the impact felt like a bruise rather than a serious break. He told medical staff he was fine. He said, "I told them actually, 'I swear, I'm actually good. There's nothing wrong with my head.'" He admitted he was wrong. There was little swelling and no external bleeding at the time of the injury.

Faber described the period of inactivity as the most difficult part of the healing process. As a Maple Grove native who trained through the summer, he found it challenging to sit out for four weeks straight. He noted that his body felt physically normal just days after surgery. He said, "My body feels normal. My head feels completely normal. I just can't do anything." He described the downtime as very boring.

Faber is now wearing ear guards attached to his helmet. He acknowledged that he likely would not have used the equipment without the injury. He called it a prudent measure. He stated, "It would be pretty dumb not to." He said the injury will not change his playing style. He added, "I love the game too much to let this affect me. What's done is done now. Injuries happen."

Faber has been watching the team from the sidelines. The Wild have recorded an 11-3-3 record since his absence. He said the team's success helps him avoid rushing his return. He noted, "They're playing really good hockey right now. Honestly, it makes me feel so good knowing they don't need me right now." He said the team is winning games in the right way, which reduces his anxiety to return before he is fully ready.

The next step for Faber is continued recovery while traveling with the team. He is building back toward game shape and will continue working out for the remainder of the week. He plans to take more time with this recovery than he might have in the past. He said, "The last thing I'd want to do is get back too soon and something else pops up."