I doubt Trotz cared if he cleared or not. There was no "development" upside to Fabbro, so they probably are just happy to have the $2.5M Cap space back, there was no thought of him clearing to the minors like Tolvanen.
He might still have cleared, but if he did then Trotz would have just been able to use that as a "told ya so" to Fabbro/agent in response to their trade request?
I do hope Fabbro asked out. I'm still surprised he even re-signed, tbh. But he was in a spot where it's a-ok to ask out and nobody could possibly blame him. (Unlike certain Russian goalie prospects, say). If the Preds were trying to trade him, had no takers, and this was their way of trying to accommodate his ask, that would be a nice bowtie on things. (Team is still a little dumb for letting it get to this, but at least let a guy go this way if you don't see eye to eye.
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