Dante Fabbro has been a speculative trade candidate in Nashville for a few years now and it appears he could be on the move although not via a trade. Instead, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports (Twitter link) that the Predators have placed the blueliner on waivers.
A few years ago, the 26-year-old looked like another fixture on the back end for the Preds. He had three seasons averaging more than 19 minutes a night (primarily on the second pairing) between 2019-20 and 2021-22, even putting up a breakout 24-point effort in the 2021-22 campaign, making his then-$2.4MM price tag look like a bargain.
However, things haven’t gone as well since then. Fabbro’s playing time has dipped since then, dropping to 17:27 per night in 2022-23 and then 16:21 last season. This year, it’s even lower when he has been in the lineup as he has logged just 13:06 per game in his six appearances where he has been held off the scoresheet thus far. In Nashville’s other eight games, Fabbro has been a healthy scratch.
Fabbro is making $2.5MM this season on a one-year deal he signed at last year’s trade deadline, locking him in at the same rate as the year before without any potential for uncertainty in what would have been his final year with arbitration eligibility; he could have very easily been a non-tender candidate had he been unsigned heading into late June.
That price tag would be difficult for quite a few cap-strapped teams to absorb but even so, it’s possible that Fabbro could be claimed. A rebuilding team might want to get a look at him to see if he’s worth keeping around longer-term or to try to build up his value and then flip him (possibly with salary retention) closer to the March 7th trade deadline. With over 300 NHL games under his belt, he could be a worthwhile pickup for some teams looking for depth and experience on their back end. Teams will have until 1 PM CT on Sunday to place a claim on him.
They should also replace Schenn.
I can see Utah or LA KINGS taking him..
WTF is even going on with Nashville right now? They have the worst record in the league despite having a strong off-season, and I haven’t read anything explaining why.
Nashville can replace Fabbro, And Schenn, With Del Gaizo, And Stastney, Then they can end the Brunette experiment with Joel Quenneville.
I fear Trotz will wait too long before firing his buddy Bruno.
Is Stastney coming back? Why else do this?
I think they hope someone claims him. This isn’t like when they tried to sneak Tolvanen through. They want him and his contract off the books.
Yeah, but that’s not because he’s no good. The Preds need cap relief badly. All GM’s know this aind probably waited for their chance to get him for free rather than trade for him.
Not true. Preds do not need Cap room badly. Fabbro has just been bad now for a couple of years and passed on the depth chart by Del Gaizo. Stastney also passed him whenever he makes his return from whatever is keeping him off the ice. Preds actually have a better record after 15 games this year than last. Upcoming 5 game West trip might be a good Barometer for the rest of the year.
5-9-1 vs 5-10-0. Not much to crow about. :/
Not at all but I would stop the Fire Brunette thoughts until after Christmas.