Defenceman Brock Faber’s return to play protocol has been cleared, according to The Athletic’s Michael Russo.
Russo reports there is no timetable yet for his return, but he can resume skating in a few days.
The 24-year-old had a procedure late last month to repair a skull fracture sustained in the preseason.
Faber is a top pairing defenceman on the Wild, averaging 24:41 of ice time during the regular season and increasing to 29:44 in the playoffs.
The 24-year-old right-shot blueliner recorded 15 goals and 51 points in 80 games last season and added four goals and 10 points in 11 playoff games before the Wild were eliminated in the second round by the Colorado Avalanche.
Drafted 45th overall by the Wild in 2020, Faber has 33 goals and 127 points in 242 career games.
A native of Maple Grove, Minn., Faber has represented the United States twice at the World Juniors, and more recently, he helped the USA to silver at the 4 Nations Face-Off and gold at the 2026 Olympics at Milano-Cortina.
Spurgeon week-to-week
Meanwhile, defenceman Jared Spurgeon is week-to-week with an undisclosed injury after leaving Tuesday’s game against the Utah Mammoth early, according to Russo.
He has one goal and five points in 10 games this season.
The Wild have also recalled defenceman Carson Lambos from the AHL’s Iowa Wild.
He has one goal and one assist in eight AHL games so far this season.
Minnesota is off to a 9-3-2 start to the season and will host the New York Islanders on Thursday.