As the St. Louis Blues look to reshape their blue line ahead of the 2025–26 season, one area of need stands out: the right side of their second defensive pairing. With Torey Krug expected to be placed on LTIR and an eye toward maintaining stability behind Colton Parayko and (potentially replacing) Justin Faulk or Nick Leddy, the club would benefit from a cost-effective, dependable option. Pending free agent Dante Fabbro fits that profile well.
Fabbro, 26, is coming off a solid 2024–25 campaign split between the Nashville Predators and Columbus Blue Jackets. He appeared in 68 games, averaging a career-high 20:54 in ice time while contributing 26 points (2 goals, 24 assists), 143 blocked shots, and 66 hits. His usage and performance show that he’s capable of handling increased responsibilities in a structured role.
Proven Reliability Across Seven NHL Seasons
Over 377 NHL games, Fabbro has established himself as a dependable second- or third-pair defenseman. His career totals include:
73 points, all at even strength
613 blocked shots and 261 takeaways
Average time on ice: 18:36
He’s not going to run a power play or dominate highlight reels, but he brings mobility, calm puck movement, and reliable defensive zone play—all traits the Blues need as they look to retool their defensive core.
What a rip from Dante Fabbro 🚀 pic.twitter.com/lCvstmvS8P
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 16, 2025
A Deeper Look at 2024–25 Metrics
In 2024–25, Fabbro posted a 50.2% Corsi For Percentage (CF%) at even strength—despite starting most of his shifts in the defensive zone. He had a 43.1% defensive zone start percentage (dZS%) with Nashville and 49.1% dZS% with Columbus, showing that coaches trusted him to start shifts in tough spots.
That kind of deployment, combined with break-even possession numbers, suggests he can break up plays and transition the puck effectively—even when facing middle-six competition.
A Sensible Fit in St. Louis
The Blues currently lean heavily on Parayko and Faulk to anchor the right side. Fabbro offers the kind of complementary skill set that could strengthen the middle of the lineup without requiring top-pairing usage. He’s a strong candidate to fill second-pair minutes while contributing to the penalty kill and supporting a more offensively-minded partner like Broberg.
His style of play—calm, positional, and team-oriented—would provide stability to a group that at times lacked structure and consistency in its own end.
Not saying Dante Fabbro will be another Gustav Forsling. But it's still weird how good defenseman like Fabbro was on waivers. He's playing 1st pairing minutes at 5-on-5 with Columbus & has been playing very well in that role. Always pretty good defensively. pic.twitter.com/FuqkJUdRiS
— Rono (@RonoAnalyst) March 9, 2025
Reasonable Contract Expectations
Fabbro’s increased workload and production in 2024–25 may raise his market value, but he’s unlikely to command a premium deal. A short- to mid-term contract in the $2.5–$3.5 million AAV range seems realistic. For a team with additional flexibility due to Krug’s LTIR placement, that represents a manageable investment for a 26-year-old with over 350 games of NHL experience.
Fabbro may not generate headlines this offseason, but he represents the type of sneaky, low-risk, high-reward acquisition that can solidify a defensive group. For a Blues team in transition, adding a steady right-shot defender capable of playing second-pair minutes would be a smart, targeted move—and Fabbro fits the bill.