The Predators Have Re-Signed A Homegrown Defenceman

The Nashville Predators announced today that they have re-signed 23-year old defenceman Dante Fabbro to a 2-year contract, at $2.4 million AAV. Next season will be Fabbro's third full NHL campaign, all of them with Nashville.

Fabbro was drafted 17th overall by the Preds in 2017. He spent the better part of the next two seasons playing for Boston University, before being called up to the Predators roster at the end of the 2018-2019 campaign. He played 4 games and scored his first NHL goal during that brief stretch. Over the next two seasons, Fabbro scored 7 goals and 23 points, setting a career-high with 12 points in 2021, despite only appearing in 40 games. It's expected his totals will jump even higher over a full 82 game season. Fabbro will be just shy of 25 years old when his new deal expires, and will still be an RFA.

The Preds are choosing to bridge Fabbro for two years so they can reassess his value before he reaches UFA status. Assuming Fabbro continues to improve, his next contract will see him earn a pay raise and some term with the team that drafted him. After the Preds lost Ryan Ellis this summer, there is room at the RD position for a top prospect like Fabbro to move up in their lineup. With some more ice time and a new contract, we may very well see Fabbro have himself a breakout year.

What do you think about the new contract signed by Dante Fabbro?

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