Oilers fans are bullish on getting Dante Fabbro from the Nashville Predators

Even after trading Cody Glass earlier this month, the Nashville Predators still find themselves in a salary cap squeeze, leaving a player like Dante Fabbro in the midst of trade rumors.

The latest scenario that is picking up steam is Fabbro to the Edmonton Oilers, a team that is going to be a popular preseason pick to win the Stanley Cup in 2025. But they need another piece or two to really solidify their roster, and the Predators might be able to help with that.

Fabbro's future with Preds is hanging on by a thread

Fabbro is an attractive pickup for a lot of teams because he's consistent, a right shot defenseman, and is only signed to one more year at a modest $2.5 million. But that $2.5M is something Predators GM Barry Trotz could stand to have off the books to give him more space to re-sign his current RFAs.

Not to mentioned Fabbro still has the prime of his career ahead of him, at least you would think. It's easy to forget the guy has been around as long as he has but is still only 26-years-old. He made his NHL debut at age 20.

The organization seems to really have their stock in on Spencer Stastney, while also being pleased with their other five projected starting defensemen. Alexandre Carrier surprisingly returning after hitting unrestricted free agency really called Fabbro's future into question.

Furthermore, the Predators are optimistic at defenseman in their prospect pool with Marc Del Gaizo, Adam Wilsby, Ryan Ufko and Tanner Molendyk.

Both Juuso Parssinen and Philip Tomasino remain without new contracts with training camp quickly approaching. The Predators have just over $3 million in projected cap space, so not much room to operate in contract negotiations.

The Oilers might get additional salary cap space from Kane injury

The thought process surrounding the Oilers is if Evander Kane ends up going on LTIR, it will free up cap space for the Oilers to make a significant trade. They could be interested in a player like Tomasino to fill the gap, but Fabbro is the centerpiece to join an Oilers defensive corps that already has former Nashville Predator Mattias Ekholm, along with Darnell Nurse, Evan Bouchard and Ty Emberson.

Although this is all just speculation and hearsay, this trade match does actually make sense. It doesn't make financial sense for the Predators to hold onto Fabbro if he's going to be nothing more than a 7th defenseman with inconsistent playing time. And with just one more year left on his current deal, it might be time to just part ways altogether.

Tomasino being thrown in as an additional part of a possible trade with the Oilers is interesting to say the least. I'm not entirely convinced that Tomasino even wants to stay in Nashville and he to this point hasn't accepted the Predators' qualifying offer submitted earlier this offseason.

You'd much rather move on from Tomasino and acquire some type of draft compensation in return than to see him just move on and sign with another team. Losing Fabbro would be a little more difficult of a pill to swallow, but again the cap space is sorely needed.

I would welcome this trade if it actually comes to fruition, and Oilers fans seems to feel the same way about possibly adding Fabbro to their stable of defensemen.