Minnesota Wild defenseman Brock Faber will be sidelined indefinitely following surgery to repair a fractured skull sustained during the team’s final preseason game. The injury occurred when a puck struck Faber on the side of his helmet near the left ear, according to General Manager Bill Guerin, who revealed the diagnosis four days after the incident.

The 24-year-old Faber was hit midway through the second period in the game against the Dallas Stars at Grand Casino Arena. He collapsed to the ice immediately after the shot from the point but managed to get up and skate off the ice without assistance. Faber briefly returned after a television timeout and participated in a few more shifts before being removed in the third period as his condition worsened. He was subsequently taken to a hospital for treatment.

Guerin did not provide a timeline for Faber’s return to play, declining to comment on whether the defenseman would be available at any point during the upcoming NHL season. The team has yet to announce any further updates regarding Faber’s recovery or potential roster moves in response to his absence.