Detroit Red Wings

Red Wings Role Call: Robby Fabbri’s Detroit Future

Published

2 years ago

May 26, 2022

Red Wings Role Call is assessing every player who held a significant place in the fortunes of the 2021-22 Detroit Red Wings season. We’ll be looking at the highs and lows they experienced during the just-completed campaign, as well as what the future holds for them in Detroit. Today, we feature wing/center Robby Fabbri

Robby Fabbri

Position: Wing/Center

2021-22 totals (GP-G-A-P): 56-17-13-30

Contract Status: Starting 3-year deal at $4 M AAV

Season Synopsis

The Red Wings were so pleased with Robby Fabbri’s play this season they gave him a three-year contract extension in December. That made it clear that the 26-year-old Fabbri is part of the rebuild.

Former Detroit coach Jeff Blashill regularly praised Fabbri’s blend of skill and competitiveness. Fabbri is a combative player with a keen ability to lift a puck into the net from in close.

He was a good fit with Pius Suter on the second line. When Dylan Larkin was out of the lineup, he played as the the No. 1 center. The Red Wings appreciate his spunk and versatility.

“From the very first second of training camp Robby really worked to an extraordinary level, really has competed hard,” Blashill said during the season. “I think he’s deserving of those opportunities to move up. I think he’s got a skill-set to be able to play up the lineup, he’s got a competitiveness to play up the lineup and he’s got a smarts to be able to do that and he’s done a good job whenever he’s gone up.”

Fabulous stuff from Robby Fabbri on the play. 😧 pic.twitter.com/CiLfZ08VBF

— NHL (@NHL) January 22, 2022

2021-22 Red Wings Highlights

Fabbri’s 17 goals were the most he’s had since he netted 18 in his NHL rookie season for the St. Louis Blues in 2015-16. He scored those 18 goals in 72 games, compared to 17 in 56 last season. Fabbri had six multiple-point games.

2021-22 Red Wings Lowlights

Fabbri suffered a torn ACL in his right knee during a game March 10 against the Minnesota Wild. It was the third torn ACL of his career, and it cost him a chance of registering a career high in goals.

Introducing the Robby Fabbri death stare pic.twitter.com/lSZniVr8va

— Justin (@TheYzerPlan) February 3, 2022

What Does His Detroit Future Hold?

The only question about Fabbri’s future is when he will be ready to play again. In his end-of-the-season interview with the media, Fabbri couldn’t say whether he would be ready by Red Wings’ training camp.

“We’re going to play it by ear,” Fabbri said. “We’re going to work with the medical staff and work with everyone,. The goal is to get back as soon as possible but doing it the right way and doing it safe and making sure this is the last time. There’s no date right now and we’re just going to keep working.”

The injury is frustrating . Fabbri said he doesn’t know of any instance of player suffering three torn ACL.

But he’s not concerned about his ability to come back from this.

“I don’t think it’s me as a person or player to take a step back andnot play as hard or as fearless as I do,” Fabbri said. “Playing that way has gotten me to where I am now. It’s going to continue to move me forward through my career and as a player. I’m not too worried about that.”

Fabbri said rehabilitation is a slow process,. It requires him to assess how he is feeling each day to determine what he needs to do that day.

“I don’t see any golf in my summer this summer,” Fabbri said.