Team USA Trying to Ride Brock Faber to 4 Nations Title

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Minnesota Wild defenseman Brock Faber - 4 Nations Face Off-USA vs Canada
Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images

The Minnesota Wild are on a two week hiatus from the 2024-25 NHL schedule thanks to a one-off round robin international tournament dubbed the “4 Nations Face-Off”, which is taking place in Montreal and includes many of the best hockey players from USA, Canada, Finland and Sweden.

This new tourney has never been played before and will probably never happen again. Oh, and outside of national pride and competitive spirit… it means nothing. The 4 Nations Face-Off won’t qualify any of the teams for future Olympic or World Cup play and doesn’t count toward any type of international ranking.

The 4 Nations Tournament that “doesn’t matter”

But tell that to all of the NHL players who have spent the past week treating this tournament like the future prosperity of each country is at stake. On Saturday night, for example, Team USA — which was put together by Minnesota Wild GM Bill Guerin — played host Canada. As soon as the puck dropped, two NHL superstars (Matthew Tkachuk and Brandon Hagel) dropped gloves. Remember, this tournament “doesn’t matter”.

In 55 games this season, Brandon Hagel has already potted 26 goals and 36 assists (62 points), playing 21 minutes per night for the Tampa Bay Lightning. Tkachuk, the better-known name of the two assailants from Saturday night’s opening bell brawl, has piled up 22 goals and 35 assists (57 points).

Those aren’t the stat lines you expect to see between two dudes looking to play rock-em sock-em hockey stars instead of ice hockey. But apparently, the 4 Nations just hits different. Without a doubt, this tournament has set the bar for all international sporting events going forward.

USA hockey needs Brock Faber

Now, let’s talk about the hockey side of Saturday’s heavyweight matchup between the USA and Canada, which ended in a 3-1 American victory and secured the United States a spot in the championship game this week.

Prior to their win vs Canada, the USA trounced Finland 6-1. Minnesota Wild players Matt Boldy and Brock Faber both played a huge role in that win, including the game winning shot by Faber, which was deflected into the net by Boldy, giving the US a 2-1 lead they wouldn’t surrender.

But really, it’s the 22-year-old homegrown Wild defenseman who has proven himself irreplaceable in the USA lineup. Against Sweden, Faber played nearly 19 minutes, fourth most among American defensemen. He finished with the one assist and a +1 goal differential.

Related: MN Wild Top Pick Just Misses No. 1 Spot in NHL Prospect Rankings

Then, in a much tighter game Saturday vs Canada, Faber logged over 25 minutes of ice time, 2nd only to his defense partner, Jaccob Slavin (Carolina Hurricanes), who logged about 17 seconds more than Faber did.

Brock Faber essential to Minnesota Wild and Team USA

Both Faber and Slavin were on the ice for all three of America’s goals vs the Mounties. Neither was playing when Connor McDavid sliced through the USA defense for Canada’s only goal of the contest in the first period.

Without a doubt, Slavin and Faber have proven this week that they are two of the most important players in USA hockey. But here is the thing: Jaccob Slavin is 30 years old, Brock Faber is just 22. On the season, Faber has 6 goals and 16 assists (22 points) on 24:55 TOI per night.

The Minnesota Wild inked Brock Faber to an 8-year contract that will pay him $8.5 million per year. The new deal hasn’t even kicked in yet and it’s already looking like one of the best contracts in the National Hockey League.

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