The Quinn Hughes-Brock Faber pairing has proven surprisingly formidable in Hughes' first six games with the Minnesota Wild. While many expected him to link up with Kirill Kaprizov, this defensive duo has looked lethal and poses a real threat to the Colorado Avalanche.
The Wild's top defensive pairing is a two-headed monster on the blue line, equally dangerous offensively while also stifling the opposition.
"Hughes has come as advertised. His four points in six games undersell the impact he's made on the team offensively. Faber's got the edge in points since the two took the ice together, with five points in those six games. While Faber can't duplicate Hughes' mobility in tight spaces, he's showing that he's a great skater in his own right by moving the puck nearly as quickly as Hughes. When Hughes hits a roadblock, Faber is there to get out of his own zone decisively, and is doing so with a new level of flair." -Abbott
The duo has spent 114 minutes together at 5v5, outscoring opponents 7-4 while controlling 64.3% of the expected goals share, a mark that puts them in a league of their own.
While reminiscent of Cale Makar and Devon Toews, the Wild pairing poses a greater offensive threat from both players, whereas in the Makar-Toews duo, most of the scoring burden falls on Makar.
"It's early, but one would expect Hughes and Faber to improve with time to build chemistry, not worsen. It's hard to get better results than what we've seen so far. Still, if there's an extra half-layer of efficiency that comes from getting comfortable with each other, then Hughes and Faber could be a superhero duo that puts Minnesota over the top." -Abbott
It will be fascinating to see what this duo can accomplish over the next four months of the regular season and how that momentum might carry into the playoffs.
Could their success also play a role in Quinn Hughes' decision to re-sign with the Wild this summer?