Wild sign two-time Big 10 defensive player of the year to entry-level contract

The Minnesota Wild have signed one of their biggest prospects, inking defenseman Brock Faber to a three-year entry-level contract on Sunday.

Faber was captain of the University of Minnesota, who lost the national championship game on Saturday night in overtime to Quinnipiac University.

Faber finished his three-year career with a career-high four goals and 27 points. The two-time Big 10 defensive player of the year finished his career with 53 points in 97 games. He also helped Minnesota win the Big 10 title in 2021 and was named to the first All-Star team in 2021-22.

Faber most notably represented the United States at the 2022 Olympics, recording one assist in four games.

Also a member of the USA’s gold medal-winning World Junior Championship team in 2021, Faber is a great skater that uses his speed and agility to take away angles and make life difficult. He can suffocate opponents along the boards and land booming hits on a regular basis.

Faber, 20, was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings with the 45th pick in 2020. The Wild acquired him in the deal last summer that sent Kevin Fiala to the Kings, with Faber being brought in to help bolster one of the best prospect pools in the league. The right-handed defenseman is the best defensive prospect in the system and one that should make the jump to the NHL next season. The Wild also has Carson Lambos (20) and Jack Peart (19) in the system, with both looking a bit farther away at this time.

The Wild currently sit third in the Central Division, two points behind Colorado for the lead. They’re guaranteed a top-three spot, and if the standings remain the same, they’ll face off against the Dallas Stars in the first round. Faber can join the team immediately and will travel to Chicago for the Wild’s upcoming road trip.