The Minnesota Wild have signed defenseman Brock Faber to an eight-year contract extension with an average annual value of $8.5 million, the team announced Monday. Faber is entering the final year of his entry-level contract, with the extension set to begin in the 2025-26 season.
The contract includes a no-movement clause and a 15-team no-trade clause effective after the fourth year, as reported by The Athletic’s Michael Russo.
In the 2023-24 season, Faber was the Calder Trophy runner-up, recording 47 points in 82 games while averaging 24:58 of ice time per game—ranking sixth among all NHL skaters. Before last season, he had played only eight NHL games, including playoffs.
Faber’s performance metrics showed a strong start to the season but saw a decline as it progressed, which may be attributed to his increased workload; he had never previously played more than 56 games in a single season.
The Wild acquired Faber in a trade with the Los Angeles Kings in June 2022, which sent Kevin Fiala to the Kings. Faber was drafted 45th overall by the Kings in 2020.
A native of Maple Grove, Minnesota, Faber played college hockey at the University of Minnesota.
With Faber’s extension, the Wild’s top four defensemen are secured for the near future. Captain Jared Spurgeon ($7.575 million AAV), Jonas Brodin ($6 million), and Jake Middleton ($4.35 million) are each signed for at least the next three seasons.
Additionally, the Wild are gaining cap space, with the buyouts of Zach Parise and Ryan Suter counting for $14.7 million against the cap this season, which will drop to $1.66 million in the subsequent three seasons.
