Nashville Predators sign Dante Fabbro to entry-level contract

The Nashville Predators have announced they have signed 2016 first-round pick Dante Fabbro to an entry-level contract.

With the college hockey season starting to end for some teams, it’s prospect signing season. The Nashville Predators have announced they have signed defenseman Dante Fabbro to his entry-level deal. According to Chris Johnston, he is expected to make their NHL roster and burn the first year of his three-year entry-level contract.

It’ll be interesting to see where Dante Fabbro fits on an already crowded blueline. Currently, each of their seven defensemen are under contract for next season. Should Fabbro earn a roster spot, Matt Irwin or Yannick Weber would likely be the odd man out.

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Fabbro is coming off a very impressive college career. Not only was he one of the Boston University Terriers best players, but he was also their top defensemen. Fabbro finished his college career by putting up 33 points in 38 games.

In total, he accumulated 80 points in 111 games with the Terriers. Additionally, Fabro was named to two consecutive second-team All-Hockey East rosters (2017-18, 2018-19)

He helped Team Canada win a silver medal (2016) and a gold medal (2017) at the World Juniors. Fabbro also played for Canada at the 2018 Spengler Cup, putting up two goals and an assist in three games. He was named to the All-Star team for the tournament.

Fabbro is a very dependable two-way defenseman who has seen his offense drastically improve over the past two seasons. He’s a very good skater who should fit in well with the Predators’ mobile blueline.

Though the Predators blueline is pretty full right now, they have some tough decisions to make in the next two seasons. Nashville still has to re-sign Roman Josi. Plus, there’s the Seattle expansion draft. There will definitely be opportunities for Fabbro to earn playing time.

With Weber, Irwin, and Dan Hamhuis, the Predators don’t have to rush him at all. Fabbro is close to being NHL ready, as he proved during the Spengler Cup. If the Predators want to keep him on their NHL roster next season, they might have to let go of either Hamhuis, Irwin, or Weber. At the very least, they’d send one of them down.

Fabbro is the fourth Boston University Terriers player to leave the team for the NHL. He joins recent signees Joel Farabee (Philadelphia Flyers), Jake Oettinger (Dallas Stars), and Chad Krys (Chicago Blackhawks). However, Fabbro is the only one who is likely going to play in the NHL this season. Farabee’s deal doesn’t start until next season, while Oettinger will join the Texas Stars of the AHL on an amateur tryout. Krys’ deal doesn’t start until the 2019-20 season.