Article: Which Brock Faber Is Going To the Playoffs?

[Tony Abbott]

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[M_Nels]

Jiri should be able to start shouldering some of the load next season. Just don't think they can rely on a 3rd pair of Bogo-Merrill to play hard, heavy, big moment minutes.

You sub Jiri for Bogo and Buium for Merrill (not saying as a pairing together) your d-corps instantly becomes more balanced. 

 

[Imyourhuckleberry]

Quote

Faber's calling card might be his poise; he's usually in position and makes the right play. But we're seeing more slips, like with Mikael Backlund's opening goal on Friday, when he and Filip Gustavsson miscommunicated on what should have been an easy retrieval. 

I'm happy that play was highlighted, but I don't know how Faber can be faulted for that at all. Gus threw the puck the wrong way, opposite of what Faber was communicating, which was unfortunate.

I had thought Gus sent the puck the wrong way during the live broadcast, but seems even more clear with the replay highlighted above. Faber should have had 2 goals against Vancouver. He's not perfect, but Faber is very good for his age and likely to get even better.

[BeanPole Harvester]

M_Nels, I like the thought. 

Assuming the Wild also believes in that I think the likely pairings would be

Faber/Middleton

Jiricek/Brodin

Spurgeon/Buium

[OldDutchChip]

Faber has Suter-like endurance but does more than Suter -

This is simply not the case. I think we are selling Suter short here and propping up Faber a bit more than deserved. He has NOT done more than Suter. before saying he has - let’s see what PO brings. It’s his D now. Big PO for Him and Rossi. 

[Fezig]

Since January 1, Faber has been outscored 16-27 at 5-on-5, a 37.2% goals-for percentage that ranks fourth-worst among 145 defensemen with 500-plus minutes during that time

I'd like to see comparative stats regarding scoring. Sure, Faber has been outscored since Jan 1st, but only 16 5-on-5 goals in over three months?! I'd say most blue liners would have a negative total over 3 months if their offense was that anemic. I'd submit keeping the opposing teams to only 27 goals during that time, especially with his time on the ice, is a badge of honor more than a blemish.

[Imyourhuckleberry]

11 hours ago, OldDutchChip said:

This is simply not the case. I think we are selling Suter short here and propping up Faber a bit more than deserved. He has NOT done more than Suter. before saying he has - let’s see what PO brings. It’s his D now. Big PO for Him and Rossi. 

I think I'll have to agree with OldDutch here. Faber has scored slightly more goals than Suter ever did in a 1 or 2 year span, but he's struggling to reach 20 assists this season and Suter was routinely in the 30s or 40s there.

Suter's strength in front of the goal limited opportunities and he didn't make a lot of mistakes with the puck in his prime.

Faber is better than the current version of Suter and likely better than the age equivalent Suter was back in 06-07, but he doesn't seem like he does a lot more than Suter did in his first 6 seasons with the Wild before he was slowing down.

Hopefully the Wild will defeat the Ducks tonight so we can see them in the playoffs again to get a better sense of where some of these guys(coach included) stack up against the top teams in a 7-game series.

[M_Nels]

12 hours ago, OldDutchChip said:

Big PO for Him and Rossi. 

Huge for both but more so for Rossi. We've seen his point production climb in the regular season but is he a guy that can drive play, defend well and still get some points to deserve an offer.

[Pewterschmidt]

16 minutes ago, M_Nels said:

Huge for both but more so for Rossi. We've seen his point production climb in the regular season but is he a guy that can drive play, defend well and still get some points to deserve an offer.

Agree.  I think bill has already decided to trade Rossi, but Rossi can raise his market value with a solid showing of NHL hockey against the big boys in the playoffs.

I can already hear the apologists saying: but P-Basis Trade, Rossi has been playing hurt yada yada.  I'm a Rossi fan and dude has the closer gene that some do not have (Fred, Nojo, Nyqzy) but Rossi is on a short list of players in this group that has enough market value that he could return middle six value this offseason.

(Rossi fell out of favor for me when he pulled a disappearing act when Ek and 97 left the lineup) 

[bisopher]

Along with the big minutes, when is the last time Faber had more than two days off in a row?  The Christmas break?  Remember, he played big minutes in the 4 Nations as well.

 

I'm hopeful that:

1) The Wild can put the hammer down and get out to a big lead tonight, letting Faber keep his TOI down, and

2) The three days (minimum) between today and the start of the playoffs will let him recharge and be "good" Brock Faber in Round 1.

[Amaddeo]

Faber is a beast and minute muncher, but I think is most effective with 23-25 mins and in situations where he can make simple effective plays. Not creative plays or make difficult decisions. If the d core can maintain its health next year, the top 4 should get a healthy balance, and Buium can man PP2 to start, eventually moving to PP1. Faber can be a PKer, much like Brodin and that can help the allocation of his minutes. He’s a stud, but he’s a simple player and should be put in a position to do the simple things well. Buium and Jiricek will be the offensive guys from the back end starting next year, so it should help. We will probably see Faber up near 30 mins each game in the playoffs, though

[FredJohnson]

Which Brock Faber Is Going To the Playoffs?

I’ve been told by some great hockey minds that we (the Wild hockey team) are not making the playoffs.

[Scalptrash]

When a large portion of your best players are out due to injury and your team is playing .500 hockey, what do you expect. He can't carry the team by himself.

He is overworked and probably running on fumes by now. They're going to break this kid before he peaks.

[Sam]

28 minutes ago, FredJohnson said:

Which Brock Faber Is Going To the Playoffs?

I’ve been told by some great hockey minds that we (the Wild hockey team) are not making the playoffs.

I probs have the big brain hockey mind and I can tell you that if we win tonight we will, in fact, make the playoffs.

Edited 18 hours ago by Sam
Added apostrophes on a whim

[FredJohnson]

1 minute ago, Sam said:

I probs have the big brain hockey mind and I can tell you that if we win tonight we will in fact make the playoffs.

[Patrick]

Is there a player on the Wild who didn't see their stats take a dive when Kaprizov and Ek were out?  Maybe Johansson? (ironic)  With a reduced workload and an NHL roster Brock will shine.  You can take that to the bank.

[FredJohnson]

23 minutes ago, Patrick said:

Is there a player on the Wild who didn't see their stats take a dive when Kaprizov and Ek were out?  Maybe Johansson?