Dante Fabbro was acquired off waivers from the Nashville Predators during the 2024-25 season. The change of scenery did him wonders. He was paired with Zach Werenski on the top unit for the rest of that season and never looked back.
He had poise, confidence, and all the signs of a solid defenseman. The Blue Jackets re-signed him last summer hoping to get the same level of production out of him.
Fabbro started the 2025-26 season paired with Zach Werenski on the top pairing. However, his play was not as dynamic. At times, he struggled playing against the top lines of other teams.
He didn’t seem to had the same confidence and swagger that he had last season. As the season progressed, he was demoted to the third pairing and occasionally played on the second pairing. That positioning seemed to suit him better, as he didn’t appear as overwhelmed.
I won’t say that Fabbro had a bad season. But compared to his first season with the team, he did take a step backward. General Manager Don Waddell expected him to play in the top 4 as he had in the year before. However, he was unable to find consistency in his game that would keep him in the top 4. He did seem to be comfortable on the third pairing, where he played with Erik Gudbranson.
Fabbro is going into year 2 of 4 of a contract that pays him $4.125 million per season. If he can continue to be a solid third pairing defenseman who can occasionally play on the second pair, then his contract will be ideal for his play. He will be on the Blue Jackets’ defense for the next 3 seasons unless an unforeseen trade transpires.
Final season stats: 74 games played, 5 goals, 6 assists, 11 points, 33 PIM, -16, 68 shots on goal, Overall grade: B-
Fabbro’s second season with the Blue Jackets saw a dip in production and in accountability. Last season, he was a top 4 defenseman for the club. However, he dropped to being a solid third pairing defenseman this season. He receives a B- because, while he was not necessarily bad, he wasn’t as good as he was in his first year with the CBJ.
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