Finding A Home For Fabbro
For the past couple of seasons, it has been the Mattias Ekholm and Dante Fabbro show on the second defensive pairing. While they have worked well together, there have been some bumps in the road.
Also, we can’t forget the mystery surrounding Fabbro’s exclusion from the playoffs last season. No one was exactly sure why, as it appeared that he was not injured, thus beginning a whirlwind of speculation.
However, Hynes and GM David Poile still see Fabbro as a valuable contributor to the team with some room to grow. So much so that he made it onto the coveted “protection list,” saving him from being devoured by the Seattle Kraken in the expansion draft.
It’s not a matter of if Fabbro will be on the roster; it’s just a matter of where. With the acquisition of defenseman Philippe Myers, we could see Fabbro placed on the third pairing.
The duo of Ekholm and Myers is a dream come true for Hynes, who favors players who are larger in stature. With Ekholm at 6’4″ and Myers at 6’5″, they will cast an imposing shadow on the ice provided Myers can grasp the system quickly.
Fabbro made the jump to the NHL rather quickly and has played well for his age. If he does find himself on the third pairing, it will be a great opportunity for him to work on his leadership skills and continue to grow in his position.