Player Discussion: Dante Fabbro

[Viqsi]

Admittedly, I am very sour recently. Especially about the team.

I have a hard time believing Fabbro is as good as he’s being billed as. Maybe he had an excellent season a few years ago next to *checks notes* Roman Josi, but was that because he’s actually good? Or was it because he played with Josi.

I don't think the distinction actually matters because Zach Werenski.

 

[CBJx614]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1856037606620049617

 

[Double-Shift Lasse]

#15s

Mike Maneluk 2001

Kent McDonell 2003

Duvie Westcott 2004-2006

Derek Dorsett 2009-2013

Nick Schultz 2014

Jakob Lilja 2020

Michael Del Zotto 2021

Gregory Hofmann 2022

Gavin Bayreuther 2023

 

[Jovavic]

#15s

Mike Maneluk 2001

Kent McDonell 2003

Duvie Westcott 2004-2006

Derek Dorsett 2009-2013

Nick Schultz 2014

Jakob Lilja 2020

Michael Del Zotto 2021

Gregory Hofmann 2022

Gavin Bayreuther 2023

Interesting, shouldn't be too hard to get in the top half of that list.

A new series of summer polls (or maybe during this 4 Nation thing) idea could be choosing who the best of each number was. Some will be pretty obvious but most could lead to good discussion.

 

[Viqsi]

Interesting, shouldn't be too hard to get in the top half of that list.

A new series of summer polls (or maybe during this 4 Nation thing) idea could be choosing who the best of each number was. Some will be pretty obvious but most could lead to good discussion.

Well, the obvious way to do that would be a countdown to the start of next season. Assuming, of course, we can handle multiple polls at once...
Or run the prospect polls during gaps in the countdown polls...

 

[LJ7]

Have never watched the player very closely before, but based on what others are saying it seems like in the best case we picked up a reliable partner for Werenski or Mateychuk long term. Nice pickup, excited to see how he pans out here.

 

[DankoCBJ]

I really hope Fabbro fits in well with Werenski and those two form our top pair for the foreseeable future.

 

[koteka]

reliable partner for Werenski or Mateychuk long term.

He is a UFA at the end of the season.

 

[LJ7]

He is a UFA at the end of the season.

I know. "In the best case" includes him doing well and re-signing.

 

[glenngineer]

I noticed that Fabbro had an assist last night and a goal this evening. How has he been performing for you all? I regret that we let him go for nothing more than cap space.

 

[stevo61]

I noticed that Fabbro had an assist last night and a goal this evening. How has he been performing for you all? I regret that we let him go for nothing more than cap space.

He's been fairly solid, getting better as he gets used to the team and system. I hate that they reconfigured all 3 pairs after his arrival and created chaos but that's not on him

 

[S1N4TR4]

+11 in 8 games now with us. holy schnikes.

had +4 today, 5 hits.

now up to 5 points in 8 games with us

was on the ice for 15 shots for and only 3 against at even strength. unreal.

dean and don have to be in awe right now of how he was put on waivers.

 

[Viqsi]

+11 in 8 games now with us. holy schnikes.

had +4 today, 5 hits.

now up to 5 points in 8 games with us

was on the ice for 15 shots for and only 3 against at even strength. unreal.

dean and don have to be in awe right now of how he was put on waivers.

And virtually every Preds fan on HF is nodding along, having anticipated an outcome very much like this. If the top pairing continues to play the way it has don't be surprised if HFPreds joins in on calling for Werenski for the Norris Trophy, since Josi was controversially denied it the last time he and Fabbro played together. (Yes, yes, Makar, but still.)

 

[Napoli]

+11 in 8 games now with us. holy schnikes.

had +4 today, 5 hits.

now up to 5 points in 8 games with us

was on the ice for 15 shots for and only 3 against at even strength. unreal.

dean and don have to be in awe right now of how he was put on waivers.

Eventually everyone will realize he's one of the best defensemen on the team. I take him over everyone except Werenksi.

 

[Aaaarrgghh]

The way it's going, I'd sure like to see him get extended.

 

[MoeBartoli]

I noticed that Fabbro had an assist last night and a goal this evening. How has he been performing for you all? I regret that we let him go for nothing more than cap space.

Fabbro has paired nicely with Werenski - probably his best partner. He’s played responsible defense which compliments that pairing well.

I am likely in a minority here bit I don’t have the same confidence in him if paired with another DMan. His giveaway rate is atrocious - 30 already in his 15 game Columbus stint and just 2 takeaways. Despite those stats I’m happy the CBJ claimed him to pair with Z.

The awkward aspect of him in Columbus is what @stevo61 said. It means Provorov and Severson are paired together and each of them, despite having skills, are prone to making some costly puck and coverage mistakes.

 

[Doggy]

Fabbro has paired nicely with Werenski - probably his best partner. He’s played responsible defense which compliments that pairing well.

I am likely in a minority here bit I don’t have the same confidence in him if paired with another DMan. His giveaway rate is atrocious - 30 already in his 15 game Columbus stint and just 2 takeaways. Despite those stats I’m happy the CBJ claimed him to pair with Z.

The awkward aspect of him in Columbus is what @stevo61 said. It means Provorov and Severson are paired together and each of them, despite having skills, are prone to making some costly puck and coverage mistakes.

I agree with this, Provy and Severson has not been a good pairing. Very frustrating to see two high priced veterans who cannot seem to jibe.

 

[thebus88]

Eventually everyone will realize he's one of the best defensemen on the team. I take him over everyone except Werenksi.

I don’t think it’s a coincidence that our 2nd best defenseman at any given time, is simply whoever is playing with Werenski…

 

[Napoli]

I don’t think it’s a coincidence that our 2nd best defenseman at any given time, is simply whoever is playing with Werenski…

When the other guys you're competing against are Severson and Provorov, it's not that difficult. Both of those players are extremely overrated. To clarify, I'm speaking specifically about defense, not what they bring offensively. Severson and Provorov are both disasters defensively. Provorov slightly less so.

 

[Jovavic]

When the other guys you're competing against are Severson and Provorov, it's not that difficult. Both of those players are extremely overrated. To clarify, I'm speaking specifically about defense, not what they bring offensively. Severson and Provorov are both disasters defensively. Provorov slightly less so.

Great parting gifts from Jarmo. Our pro scouting isn't all that great either.

 

[Viqsi]

I'm seeing more and more folks here suggesting that they don't think Fabbro is a long-term answer next to Werenski here, and I admit I just don't get it.

At the risk of unfairly strawmanning... if it was just "He was a waiver wire pickup and this is a one-time thing", that would make sense to me. But I legit feel that his situation is exceptional. I wanted to trade for him beforehand because this isn't IMO a one-time thing - he was doing exactly the same Good General Support bit alongside Roman Josi and just never got an opportunity to repeat that. Some might argue that it's just "yeah, but that's Josi; good players mesh well with anyone", but frankly that hasn't been the case to this level of effectiveness with either Josi or Werenski - there's more guys than most that can fit, but plenty of other folks that just can't hack it. And, well, frankly, Barry Trotz has not exactly been impressing as a GM.

I'll readily agree he cannot carry a pairing. He shouldn't be asked to. But supporting star players is a legitimate skill and one that has value. So why are some of us already trying to move on from him when he's just getting started here and already showing he can help create exceptional results?

 

[koteka]

I'll readily agree he cannot carry a pairing. He shouldn't be asked to. But supporting star players is a legitimate skill and one that has value. So why are some of us already trying to move on from him when he's just getting started here and already showing he can help create exceptional results?

I think the idea people want to move on from him is a straw man. I’d offer him a modest 2 or 3 year contract. I think the fear is over paying or over extending him when we already have the Severson contract. Heck, I’d love to sign Provorov to a 4 x $4M and Fabbro to a 3 x $2.5M and have low risk contracts on high risk players. But I am not going to risk a bad contract with either.

 

[Viqsi]

I think the idea people want to move on from him is a straw man.

The first one or two times I figured I was just being hypersensitive - particularly because it came shortly after the Jiricek trade and so I was already a bit rough. But the talk seems to continue. Maybe I'm selection biasing it or something but it still confuses me whether it's a common thought or not.