Article: Brock Faber Should Have A Spot In Wild's Playoff Lineup

[Tom Schreier]

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[Phather12]

As much as I would love to see this, I highly doubt it's gonna happen. Management has been making some strange decisions this year (especially with young guys). But I would love to be proven wrong because Faber really could help this struggling team.

[mnfaninnc]

This is kind of a hard decision. Faber is clearly a right defender, and a good one.  There is also Spurgeon, Dumba, Klingberg.  At this point, I don't see any way Addison draws in.  But, who would be Faber's partner?

The 1st thought is who would run PP1.  You could say that Klingberg has been ineffective in that role, but then you notice that most of his time there hasn't included Kaprizov, our main threat.  You could make a case that Klingberg needs to be there for the PP.  Could Spurgeon do just as well there?  That would be the gamble.

2nd thought, then, is what about the PK?  It is very true that the Wild have a deficiency at 1 position on the ice, right handed defense.  As a unit, they've been too small.  Klingberg helps add some size but he will get walked by larger forwards and merely just gets in the way. Faber helps solve that problem as he is a good defender and offers some size.  He makes the PK better, and is very interested in defending.  His breakout passes are good and with a little practice could be better than that.  

Last playoffs, our PK was a problem, mainly because Blues were allowed to stand 5 feet away from Fleury to bang in loose pucks.  Faber helps that in spades with body positioning and a good stick.  PKs also tend to be more important in playoffs than PPs.  

Merrill has played the majority of games as the 3rd pairing LD.  I believe he is better suited as a 7th D, but he's held his own in the defensive zone.  Would Goligoski add the offensive depth from the right side paired with Faber? Could Goligoski run the PP?  Certainly he could run PP2.  While Goligoski is smaller, he at least has compete level in his own end.  So, does this make our defensive units better-

• Middleton-Spurgeon
• Brodin-Dumba
• Goligoski-Faber

One last thought, should we have a lead late in a game, rotating Middleton-Spurgeon with Brodin-Faber could be the shutdowns needed to insure victory.  

My conclusion is that Faber makes this unit better, both from his presence and from who he can play with.  A Klingberg-Goligoski pairing will certainly sell nitroglycerin tablets to the Wild faithful, but Faber makes that pairing work.  I believe that's the way we should go, and we should definitely try it out on the road.

I would also not be opposed to seeing a Brodin-Klingberg pairing if needed.  They are familiar with each other's play.  I think Dumba is better defensively, but the injury last year has taken away most of his offensive abilities this season.

[Imyourhuckleberry]

Would they look at a Faber/Klingberg line?

May not match their favored playing side, but that combination of playing style seems like it might work. You could continue to use Klingberg on the PP and Faber should be useful on the PK, particularly if any of the other Defensemen end up in the box.

Otherwise, if Brodin, Dumba, Middleton, or Spurgeon take a penalty, who do you have on the 2nd PK combination?

Lots of responsibility to place on a rookie, but are Merrill, Goligoski, Klingberg, or Addison options you'd want on that PK line rather than Faber?

That's the question that Evason needs to answer because you'd ideally play at least 5 solid defensemen to have consistent PK success--at some point, a top 4 defensemen is bound to end up in the box and you don't want to make it easier for the other PP.

[Protec]

^^^
 

Some good thoughts. I think the Wild keep him in reserve for the playoffs. If someone gets hurt, he could come in. Guerin and Dean would likely want veterans first. Faber is interesting cause he’s better defensively than current roster guys. 
 

I have two gut feelings: “He’s good enough to upgrade defenseman, so put him in.” Also, “He’s a young player and you don’t need to throw him into the NHL playoffs.”

[Protec]

McAvoy came in for the playoffs if I recall. He was never again NOT an NHL player. It’s not unheard of. 

[manbearpig]

Start em whats it hurt if you do

[Backwoodsbob]

Wild projected lineup

Gustav Nyquist -- Frederick Gaudreau -- Marcus Foligno

Brandon Duhaime -- Connor Dewar -- Ryan Reaves

Nic Petan -- Marco Rossi -- Samuel Walker

Nick Swaney -- Damien Giroux -- Calen Addison

Jake Middleton -- Brock Faber

Jon Merrill -- Matt Dumba

Alex Goligoski -- John Klingberg

Filip Gustavsson

Marc-Andre Fleury

Scratched: Kirill Kaprizov, Jonas Brodin, Mats Zuccarello, Matt Boldy, Sam Steel, Jared Spurgeon

Injured: Joel Eriksson Ek (lower body), Oskar Sundqvist (lower body), Marcus Johansson (upper body)

Suspended: Ryan Hartman

[Sjaz2367]

If some of the vets are struggling ( I’m talking to you Merrill and Klingenberg) are you worse off with Fabre and Addison? On offense you are better. How many dangerous chances are they going to give up gs the older guys ?  2 maybe 3  ? What is the 5 on 5 benefit?

[Backwoodsbob]

5 minutes ago, Backwoodsbob said:

Wild projected lineup

Gustav Nyquist -- Frederick Gaudreau -- Marcus Foligno

Brandon Duhaime -- Connor Dewar -- Ryan Reaves

Nic Petan -- Marco Rossi -- Samuel Walker

Nick Swaney -- Damien Giroux -- Calen Addison

Jake Middleton -- Brock Faber

Jon Merrill -- Matt Dumba

Alex Goligoski -- John Klingberg

Filip Gustavsson

Marc-Andre Fleury

Scratched: Kirill Kaprizov, Jonas Brodin, Mats Zuccarello, Matt Boldy, Sam Steel, Jared Spurgeon

Injured: Joel Eriksson Ek (lower body), Oskar Sundqvist (lower body), Marcus Johansson (upper body)

Suspended: Ryan Hartman

Even though this is a makeshift line up thrown together I'd like to see some D juggling to see how they mesh. I do have concerns on how much Klingberg has turned over/stripped  of the puck. The last couple of games have had me jump up out of my seat with his struggles.

[Backwoodsbob]

I had the honor of watching Faber in a several Gopher games. From what i have gathered, Brock has quietly had a solid season. He plays a defensively responsible game. Not a real flashy offesive player but does have a very good hockey IQ on when to join in on the offensive push. I do have high hopes on this kid!

[Beast]

Just make up a back story for Dean’s comfort.

Faber is 32 years old from Saskatoon.  Only drinks black coffee on the bench.  Started a petition to make helmets optional.  He’s never scored a goal.  Had fewer teeth than fingers until he lost his left index finger to a skate blade a couple years back.  The only unfinished check in his life was against his mother in a family pickup game.  His father, a teammate, made him drop the gloves for not taking the body.

[jgodwin17]

Honestly I think he would be a better choice than Addison or Klingberg at this point. I would complain to see him as our 3rd right D. He looked the part vs Chicago the other night and while I didn’t see the game versus the Preds, he was our only defenseman with a positive plus/minus.

[Millante]

18 hours ago, mnfaninnc said:

Faber is clearly a right defender, and a good one.  There is also Spurgeon, Dumba, Klingberg. 

2nd thought, then, is what about the PK?  It is very true that the Wild have a deficiency at 1 position on the ice, right handed defense.

I agree to disagree since 2 of those 3 RHDs have shown to play 'above their size.' Spurg plays hard way out of his league sometimes, while Dumba drops hits on people 20-30lbs his weight.

I guess this is a 'size isn't everything' post... but it's still true. Both Dumba and Spurgeon play physical and outside of their supposed weight class. Don't take the height/weight of players as the end all/be all.

Frankly, Kapriz plays outside his weight class, but no one is criticizing him for being undersized. Be consistent...

[mnfaninnc]

On 4/14/2023 at 6:31 AM, Millante said:

I agree to disagree since 2 of those 3 RHDs have shown to play 'above their size.' Spurg plays hard way out of his league sometimes, while Dumba drops hits on people 20-30lbs his weight.

I guess this is a 'size isn't everything' post... but it's still true. Both Dumba and Spurgeon play physical and outside of their supposed weight class. Don't take the height/weight of players as the end all/be all.

Frankly, Kapriz plays outside his weight class, but no one is criticizing him for being undersized. Be consistent...

I completely agree with the assessment, however, it still leaves the right side vulnerable to getting walked by the heavyweight forwards.  Spurgeon, Dumba, Addison and Klingberg cannot handle Benn.  Spurgeon might have a good enough stick to disrupt.  

Kaprizov is not undersized.  His height isn't ideal but he clearly has a stocky build that compensates for physical play.  Shaw is the same way and both of those have been acknowledge all season and beyond.  This is where the Rossi/Addison talk comes in, though, they aren't (and Rossi's draft weight suggested he was).  

Dumba has the tendency for open ice hits mostly on middleweights, but those guys are the skilled guys and he's not afraid to take them out.  He gets in trouble against the heavyweights as does Brodin.  Faber has that rare ability to have a Brodin stick to go with a Suter frame and Brodin like skating.  He won't paste a guy into the boards but he's strong enough to not get shed by the heavyweight forwards and stands very tall in the home plate area.  

[Protec]

Quote

Faber is 32 years old from Flin Flon.  Only drinks black coffee on the bench.  Started a petition to make helmets optional.  He’s never scored a goal.  Had fewer teeth than fingers until he lost his left index finger to a skate blade a couple years back.  The only unfinished check in his life was against his mother in a family pickup game.  His father, a teammate, made him drop the gloves for not taking the body.

Fixed it for ya. 😎