Three goals and nine assists in 46 games. That was Brock Faber’s bottom line in his draft year with the U.S. National Development Program.

Those numbers placed him fifth on scoring on that team's blueline and 13th overall among players with the U18 team. Points aren't the be-all, end-all, especially for a defenceman, but these numbers didn’t inspire confidence in his potential. 

The Los Angeles Kings, who first drafted him, and the Minnesota Wild, who acquired him in the Kevin Fiala trade, saw past the counting stats though. They picked up on Faber's many NHL qualities and bet on them. And now, the Wild are reaping the rewards of that conviction.

Only in his first season, Faber looks like an impact NHLer. Playing as much as 30 minutes a night for an injured Wild team, he is putting himself in the Calder conversation as one of the best rookies in the 2023-24 season.

Few players in the NHL can manage so many minutes against such tough competition. And coming from college hockey with its light schedule, Faber is less prepared than most for this workload. Still, he's looked like a veteran in his minutes and the numbers back that up, too.