The Columbus Blue Jackets found a great defensive partner for Zach Werenski with Dante Fabbro.
Now, Fabbro is a free agent, and the Jackets would probably be wise to bring Fabbro back.
Pro Hockey Rumors projects that Fabbro will indeed return to Columbus, on a six-year deal for $4.5 million per year, a total value of $27 million.
"Fabbro landed on waivers at the beginning of the season after he fell out of the regular lineup in Nashville," PHR writes. "It was a blessing in disguise for the 2016 first-rounder, who was picked up by the Blue Jackets and emerged as a top-pairing threat alongside Zach Werenski. The 27-year-old had his birthday just last week and is one of the youngest options as a result. He had 26 points and a +20 rating in 68 games between Nashville and Columbus, averaging 20:54 per game with the best possession impacts of his career. He’s the second-best right-shot option on the market behind (Aaron) Ekblad and will get a nice bit of security if he doesn’t extend with the Jackets."
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Fabbro certainly revitalized his NHL career after the tough ending in Nashville, and now, he's going to get paid.
If Columbus doesn't give him the contract he wants, he'll surely get it elsewhere. As that projection says, there just aren't a ton of right-shot defensemen out there to be signed.
If the Blue Jackets can keep Fabbro, it should have them set on the top line of their defense for a bunch of years to come. That's a great level of security that shouldn't be overlooked.
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