The Anaheim Ducks completed another trade today, acquiring forward Robby Fabbri and a 2025 fourth-round pick from the Detroit Red Wings, in exchange for goalie Gage Alexander.
Fabbri is 28 years old and this past season, the winger scored 18 goals and 32 points in 68 games with the Red Wings. He has one year remaining on his contract, which carries a $4 million cap hit.
Selected in the first round of the 2014 NHL Draft, Fabbri has been a decent middle-six NHL forward, capable of scoring at a rate of about 20-25 goals and 40-45 points per 82 games. However, the issue with Fabbri has always been staying healthy: in his near-decade as an NHL regular, Fabbri has reached the 65-game mark in a season only twice.
Obviously though, the key is the Ducks essentially got the player for free, given Alexander (a 2021 fifth-round pick) doesn’t look poised to have an NHL future with the team, after posting fairly poor numbers in the ECHL this year. Plus, the Ducks even acquired a mid-round pick in exchange for taking Fabbri.
Again, it’s not an addition that’s really going to move the needle, but if Fabbri can stay healthy, he can be a pretty nice addition to the team’s top-nine. Plus with a year left on his deal, there’d always be the possibility to flip him for assets at the trade deadline, if a playoff push isn’t realistic.
Perhaps the one disappointing factor here is that with the additions of Fabbri and Dumoulin, the Ducks’ roster looks pretty much set for the coming season. Of course there could still be more movement, but both the forward group and defense corps look more or less complete, with no glaring vacancies really remaining for any substantial additions.
Still, Fabbri will be effective if he can stay in the lineup, and picking him up for free does improve the forward group.
OTHER ARTICLES FROM JULY
- Ducks acquire Brian Dumoulin from Kraken, but remain quiet in free agency
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