Dante Fabbro's Cap Relief Vital in Predators Plans
If the Predators are to make more moves, freeing up Fabbro's cap hit was ideal.
Dante Fabbro's Cap Relief Vital in Predators PlansThe Nashville Predators unexpectedly placed former first round pick Dante Fabbro on waivers and he was picked up by the Columbus Blue Jackets free of charge.
This can be looked at a couple of ways. While it is unfortunate that another top pick has fizzled out and been moved on from, Fabbro wasn't playing and the team would have still had his cap hit on the books if he cleared waivers and was sent to the AHL.
Columbus did Nashville a big favour by claiming the defenseman that has a $2.5 million AAV cap hit. While Fabbro is a UFA after the season, he was sitting in the press box and using up money that can be spent elsewhere to help turn the team around amidst the early struggles.
Barry Trotz recently talked about a rebuild plan that could very well mean adding and changing around pieces to get the Predators rolling the way they can. Placing Fabbro on waivers seems like the first piece to fall, and fortunate enough, freed up cap space in order to do more.
If Nashville were to have seen the 26-year-old d-man clear waivers and report to the Milwaukee Admirals, he would have gotten more playing time, but the Predators would have had to eat money on his salary if they were to try to trade him at any point this season. With two of the three retention spots already being used, that wouldn't have been an ideal situation.
The Predators need a second line center and a top-4 right-shot defenseman. Fabbro had played in the top four on the right side at times, but just wasn't the player Nashville needed for a Stanley Cup run.
Seeing as the Predators only have six defensemen on the roster now, it is likely either Spencer Stastney is close to returning or Trotz is gearing up for a big move on defense. Either way, expect more news shortly as the Fabbro chapter in Nashville is finally over.
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