Dante Fabbro, who discovered a house on the Columbus Blue Jackets’ high defensive pair after he was claimed off waivers early final season, is staying put.
The Blue Jackets and Fabbro agreed to a four-year, $16.5 million contract on Sunday, preserving Fabbro within the fold simply two days earlier than he would have develop into an unrestricted free agent in a market wherein right-side defensemen will likely be in excessive demand.
The deal carries a $4.125 wage cap hit. Fabbro has a full no-trade clause within the first 12 months of the deal. Fabbro was No. 15 on The Athletic’s free-agency Big Board, sandwiched between fellow defensemen Dmitry Orlov and Ryan Lindgren.
“Dante was an awesome addition to our workforce final season, and preserving him in Columbus was a precedence,” Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell said in a statement. “He is a brilliant, versatile defenseman who strikes the puck nicely and might play in all conditions. We’re thrilled he’ll proceed to be an essential a part of our membership.”
PuckPedia supplied additional particulars on the contract:
The #CBJ re-signed 27 y/o RD pending UFA Dante Fabbro to 4 12 months $4.125M Cap Hit Deal
Yr 1 $4.125M Wage & $1M Signing Bonus, Full No Commerce Clause
Yr 2 $4.125M, 10 Crew NTC
Yr 3 $3.625M, 10 Crew NTC
Yr 4 $3.625M, 5 Crew NTCRep’d by JP Barry @CAAHockeyhttps://t.co/GqsJBzjhRK
— PuckPedia (@PuckPedia) June 29, 2025
Fabbro, who turned 27 on June 20, was the Nashville Predators’ first-round decide in 2016. He noticed time alongside Norris Trophy winner Roman Josi however by no means fairly broke out, which undoubtedly performed a component in Nashville’s determination to position him on waivers.
Fabbro was claimed by the Blue Jackets on Nov. 10. He made his debut two nights later in a 5-2 loss to the Seattle Kraken and instantly slotted subsequent to Zach Werenski on the highest pair.
He performed 62 video games in Columbus, setting career-highs with 9 targets, 26 factors and a plus-23 ranking.
The Blue Jackets now face a troublesome determination with veteran defenseman Ivan Provorov, who was second on the Blue Jackets in ice time (23:21) and second amongst defensemen in scoring with 33 factors (seven targets, 26 assists).
Provorov and the Blue Jackets have been discussing the framework of a contract since final spring, however haven’t been capable of come to phrases. Provorov, 28, is on the lookout for a long-term contract, and the Blue Jackets could also be uncomfortable going previous a five-year time period.
(Picture: Nathan Ray Seebeck / Imagn Photos)
