Wild lock up burgeoning star Faber with 8 year extension

*Photo from Hockey Wilderness*

   Defenseman Brock Faber has signed an 8 year, $68 million contract extension with the Minnesota Wild, the team announced Monday afternoon.

   Last season was Faber's rookie year after playing in just two games the season prior. He picked up 8 goals and 39 assists for 47 points, averaging a whopping 24:58 of ice time per game while playing in all 82 games for the Wild, who missed the playoffs.

   Minnesota GM Bill Guerin said of the extension "When you're sitting in my chair, and all the hockey ops group talked about these things, it's extremely important to identify who you think is going to be a part of your foundation going forward. It's a no-brainer that Brock is going to be one of those guys and we wanted to lock him up. This is about winning. This is about giving us the best chance to win the Stanley Cup and locking up good young players with mature games who are dedicated to the team, think about the team first. That's what's important. And we feel we have somebody here that does that. So for us, this was a no-brainer."

   Faber led all NHL rookies in average ice time and assists while finishing tied for second among rookies in points. His 47 points were the most by a rookie Wild defenseman in team history and second most among all rookie skaters in team history behind only Kirill Kaprizov.

   Despite the high marks by Faber in his rookie season, he still finished in second place in voting for the Calder Trophy, with the trophy ultimately going to Connor Bedard of the Chicago Blackhawks as NHL rookie of the year.

   As such, Faber gets a big contract with the Wild. In 2024-2025, he'll make $925,000 on the last year of his current deal. His new one kicks in when the 2025-2026 season begins and pays him $8.5 million annually. He also gets a modified no trade clause for the final 3 years of the deal in the form of a 15 team no trade list.

   Faber was brought in by the Wild when they traded forward Kevin Fiala to the Los Angeles Kings. His 8 goals and 39 assists are the only points he has in the NHL in 84 career regular season games. He went without a point in 6 playoff games in 2022-2023.

   With Faber now signed, the Wild have their top 4 defensemen locked in for the long term. Jared Spurgeon, Jake Middleton, and Jonas Brodin are each signed for at least the next 3 years alongside Faber.