The off-season is in full swing. There is yet another trade. The Anaheim Ducks have acquired forward Robby Fabbri from the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for goalie Gage Alexander.
Ducks Acquire Fabbri
Trade:
To #NHLDucks: Robby Fabbri, Conditional 2025 4th Rd Pick
To #LGRW: G Gage Alexander
Condition: Ducks receive earlier of DET or BOS 2025 4th.
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) July 3, 2024
In addition to Fabbri, the Ducks are receiving a conditional 2025 fourth-round draft pick. The condition is that the Ducks will receive the earlier of the Red Wings fourth-round pick or the Boston Bruins fourth-round pick.
The trade seems to be a salary dump by the Red Wings. The Red Wings just signed Vladimir Tarasenko, so it seems the team was looking to free up cap space.
What This Trade Means For The Ducks
Fabbri is coming off a career season with the Red Wings last season. Fabbri scored 18 goals and recorded 32 points.
The Ducks will hope Fabbri can maintain that offensive success. If he does, the Ducks may try to re-sign him as part of their retool. At age 28, the Ducks could extend Fabbri to make him part of their next contending team. Likewise, the Ducks may trade him for draft capital and/or prospects at the trade deadline.
Fabbri is a talented forward, but injuries have not been kind to him. Fabbri has had three separate ACL tears. The first two occurred with the St. Louis Blues, the team that drafted him. After missing nearly two full seasons, Fabbri found himself in and out of the Blues lineup before being traded to the Red Wings.
A looming free agent, it would be to Fabbri’s advantage to stay healthy.
What This Trade Means For The Red Wings
As mentioned before, this trade appears to be a salary dump. However, it is a sign that the Red Wings are committed to winning in 2024-25. The Red Wings were in the playoff contention on the final day of the regular season last year. They are close to bringing back the Stanley Cup Playoffs to Hockeytown.
Main Photo Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
