A day after he was placed on waivers by the Nashville Predators, defenseman Dante Fabbro has been claimed by the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Fabbro, a first-round pick (No. 17 overall) by Nashville in 2016, has appeared in just six of the Predators’ 14 games this season and generated zero points. He has 16 goals and 56 assists in 315 career games with Nashville. The 26-year-old has averaged exactly 18 minutes of ice time per game in his career and has long been considered to be a trade candidate as the odd man out on Nashville’s blue line.
The Predators now have six defensemen on their NHL roster: Roman Josi, Brady Skjei, Jeremy Lauzon, Alexandre Carrier, Marc Del Gaizo and Luke Schenn. Additionally, Spencer Stastney is designated as non-roster, as he has been absent for all of training camp and the start of the season due to personal reasons.
In the event that Nashville recalls an extra defenseman from the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals, likely options include Adam Wilsby –who has yet to make his NHL debut – Kevin Gravel and Nick Blankenburg, among others.
Columbus will take on the remainder of Fabbro’s $2.5 million contract, leaving Nashville with $3.2 million in salary cap space. Once Ryan Johansen’s contract termination by the Philadelphia Flyers is finalized, Nashville’s total cap space could increase to include the remainder of the $4 million he is currently owed.
Related: Ryan Johansen’s Contract Termination Could Give Predators $4 Million in Salary Cap Space
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