In a significant move to bolster their blue line, the Columbus Blue Jackets have claimed defenseman Dante Fabbro off waivers from the Nashville Predators. This news, confirmed by Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, comes amid roster adjustments as Columbus places Kent Johnson on injured reserve due to a shoulder injury. Johnson has been sidelined since October 17, paving the way for Fabbro’s arrival on the squad.

Fabbro, a 6'0" right-shot defenseman who was a promising first-round draft pick in 2016 from Boston University, is entering his seventh season in the NHL. His tenure with the Predators has seen ups and downs, as he struggled to maintain a place in the top defensive pairing. After signing a one-year contract extension worth $2.5 million last March to avoid restricted free agency, Fabbro found himself out of favor in Nashville, sitting as a healthy scratch for five consecutive games before hitting the waiver wire.

The 2023-24 season has been especially challenging for Fabbro. He managed only six games without scoring, averaging a career-low of just 13 minutes and 6 seconds of ice time per game, while posting a -3 rating. This decline in performance likely contributed to his waiver placement, as he has faced similar challenges in previous seasons, where he struggled to cement his role, appearing in only 56 games last season.

Interestingly, Columbus has ample financial flexibility, holding the second-most cap space in the NHL at $22.92 million. This situation made it feasible for them to claim Fabbro despite his $2.5 million cap hit, although now the Blue Jackets will have eight defensemen on their roster. With Erik Gudbranson potentially out for the season following shoulder surgery, it’s expected there won’t be excessive movement among the defense unless further injuries arise.

Fabbro's addition brings considerable experience and depth to a Blue Jackets blue line that could benefit from his skill set. He boasts respectable career possession stats, with a 50.0 CF% (Corsi For percentage) and 49.5 xGF% (expected Goals For percentage) at even strength. However, his arrival may create stiff competition for younger talents like 20-year-old David Jiříček. The former sixth overall pick in the 2022 draft has spent much of this season as a healthy scratch, logging less than 12 minutes of ice time in his five game appearances.

Notably, the waiver claim comes post-November 1, meaning priority for claiming players is based on teams' standings, evidently revealing that teams like the Canadiens, Sharks, Blackhawks, Ducks, Flyers, Kraken, and Penguins all chose to pass on Fabbro. As the season progresses, this move by the Blue Jackets raises questions about their defensive strategy and the potential impact on team dynamics. Can Fabbro reclaim his place as a top-four defenseman, or will he sputter under the pressure? Only time will tell!