Minnesota Wild defenseman Brock Faber underwent surgery on Sunday for a fractured skull, the team announced on Tuesday.
There is no timetable yet on his return.
Faber, 24, was hit in the head by a deflected puck during a preseason game against the Dallas Stars on Friday.
Faber stayed in the game and didn't miss his next shift -- but was ultimately taken to the hospital in the third period.
The Wild placed Faber on injured reserve retroactive to the injury. Faber, a gold medalist on the 2026 USA men's Olympic hockey team, is expected to play alongside Quinn Hughes as the Wild's top defensive pair. Captain Jared Spurgeon should slot into Faber's spot during his absence.
The defenseman is coming off a career year in which he scored 15 goals and 52 points in 80 regular-season games.
Faber averaged 30:44 minutes in 11 playoff games last spring as Minnesota defeated Dallas in the first round before losing to Colorado.
Minnesota enters the season with hefty expectations as questions swirl about Hughes' future. The Wild open their season Thursday against the Predators.
