Brock Faber Is Poised For 4 Nations Roster Spot

International play is one of the most exciting events in hockey on any level. As a global sport, international events allow fans worldwide to celebrate the game and see which nation can assemble the best team. 

Unfortunately, the NHL has been on a hiatus from that party. The World Cup of Hockey in 2016 was the last international event with full NHL participation, and the 2014 Olympics served as the previous proper best-on-best tournament. 

Thankfully, the NHL is returning to international hockey and will play in the 2026 Olympics. Before that, we'll get an appetizer in 2025 with the 4 Nations Face-Off, featuring NHL players from Canada, Finland, Sweden, and the USA battling for supremacy. 

With the long layoff in events, a new crop of young stars will be vying for positions on their teams and the honor of playing for their country. Brock Faber is one such young star. He has quickly collected accolades and established himself as a presence in his young career. 

An appearance in the 4 Nations Face-Off would be Faber's latest accolade as he looks to find his place among the upper echelon of NHL defenders. Rosters for the 4 Nations Face-Off will be announced on December 4. While we won't know if Faber makes it until then, he has a great shot.

Faber Has Inside Track For A Roster Spot

Team USA’s defense should be one of the more robust units in the tournament. The Americans are stacked on the blue line, with Quinn Hughes, Charlie McAvoy, and Adam Fox already announced for the roster. 

Jaccob Slavin appears to be a lock as a near-unanimous pick in relevant projections. With the top four spots filled, three openings remain for American-born blueliners to make their case. Faber appears to have an inside track for one of these spots.

In their latest projections, ESPN and NHL.com have Faber slotted in as the third-pairing defender. Chris Johnston recently spoke about the USA blueline on his podcast, saying that Faber will likely be suiting up for Team USA.

“Among the players for the last three spots, you have K’Andre Miller, Zach Werenski [Jake] Sanderson,” he said. “I think Brock Faber is probably going to be there.” 

From the information we have, Brock Faber is on track to be named to the roster, but it’s important to define who he’ll probably be competing against. Johnston named several players, including Miller, Werenski, and Sanderson. 

The ESPN projections also list Noah Hanifin and John Carlson as potential suitors for the spot. Faber and those five names will be considered for the final three roster spots for Team USA’s defense. It’s stiff competition, but Faber has separated himself from that pack with his play this season.

Faber Making Strong Case For His Spot

Big names may inhabit Faber’s competition for the final roster spots on Team USA, but the Wild defender belongs in that conversation. However you want to analyze the players, Faber is clearly among the best in the group. 

Let’s take a look at traditional counting stats: 

Based on the traditional metrics, Faber belongs in this conversation. He outpaces everyone except Werenski in time-on-ice, has a positive plus/minus, and manages to be in the middle of the pack for scoring. Faber’s quality becomes more apparent when you dig into his underlying numbers. 

First, let’s examine his quality of possession:

(Source: Moneypuck.com)

Of all defenders who have logged 100 minutes in the NHL this season, Brock Faber is 38th in on-ice expected goals%. That number puts him third in the pack among our Team USA hopefuls. 

While he may rank slightly lower than Carlson and Miller, they’re all within a percentage point. Even more impressive for Faber is that he ranks first of the six players in terms of the relative expected goal percentage. That means there’s the most disparity between team and individual performance of any of the players vying for a spot. 

Faber has built this excellent quality of possession on consistent scoring paired with elite defense. Of all the defenders listed, Faber is the best shutdown defender. Just look at his expected goals against per 60 minutes.

(Source: Naturalstattrick.com)

The Wild defenseman ranks 29th in the league among defenders who have played more than 100 minutes. Of the Team USA hopefuls, he’s the only one in the top 100 and outpaces K’Andre Miller by over half a goal. 

With Team USA already featuring offensive powerhouses like Adam Fox and Quinn Hughes, players with a solid defensive profile will be at a premium. Faber fits that bill. Considering his ability to play lots of minutes and contribute offensively while playing stalwart defense, he appears to be the best candidate to make Team USA.

Faber’s fantastic play makes a strong case for his inclusion, but it will also help to have connections on the team. Bill Guerin is Team USA’s GM, and he’ll undoubtedly want to include his own player if possible. Guerin is familiar with Faber, trusts him to play an essential role for the Wild, and will want to avoid the awkward situations that can crop up when general managers leave their NHL players off national teams. Faber is a favorite to take one of the final spots.

Making the Jump To Elite Status

If Faber makes the Team USA roster, it will represent a crucial step in his development and career. Team USA will be the best team Faber has ever played for, particularly on defense. Adam Fox, Quinn Hughes, Charlie McAvoy, and Jaccob Slavin are among hockey’s best defenders and have won or received votes for the Norris Trophy. 

A spot on the USA blueline would allow Faber to play with the greatest defenders in the NHL and signal that he is part of that echelon. It would also be interesting to see Faber on a team where he is not required to play nearly half of the game as the team’s best defender. 

The 4 Nations Face-Off could be a sign of things to come for Faber’s international career. Part of the purpose of the 4 Nations Face-Off is to serve as a prelude to the Olympics. Much like the World Cup of Hockey, 4 Nations will be entertaining but likely won’t hold any long-term prestige. 

The Olympics, though? That’s where players establish their legacies. Faber has already made an Olympic appearance in 2022 when NHL players didn’t make the trip, but it would mean more if he played for the USA in a true best vs. best format. If Faber can put together a strong showing in the 4 Nations tournament, he’ll be even closer to making an Olympic appearance in 2026.

We’ll find out whether Faber makes the team in a couple of weeks, but it seems likely that will happen. That accomplishment would be another milestone for a player who immediately made an impact in the NHL.