Dante Fabbro

Despite playing in a career-high 79 games, Fabbro struggled with just 11 points in 2022-23. He supplemented that with more physical play, racking up 129 blocked shots, 113 hits, 50 PIM and 101 shots on goal, but it appears the 25-year-old blueliner may be more of a bottom-four option going forward. Fabbro's evolution in playing style fits the Predators' heavy roster, but it doesn't bode well for his fantasy prospects in 2023-24. The defenseman may not even be a lock to be in the lineup with Jake Livingstone and Alexandre Carrier around to challenge him on the defensive right side.

Fabbro finished with a career-high 24 points in 66 games last season, although 21 of them were helpers and not a single one came with the man advantage, so the increased production, as limited as it was, may not be sustainable. Still just 24 years old, Fabbro spent a good chunk of last season serving as a stay-at-home complement to Roman Josi on Nashville's top pair. It's a role the Boston University product may be tabbed for again in 2022-23, but there isn't enough here to make Fabbro a fantasy option, especially considering his mediocre hit and block totals.

Fabbro has seized a regular role in the Nashville lineup over the past two seasons following a nice career at Boston University, averaging more than 19 minutes of ice time per game each year despite posting just seven goals and 23 points over 104 contests. In addition to his low point totals, Fabbro generates very few shots on goal and offers minimal contributions in both blocks and hits, leaving him on the outside looking in in most fantasy formats despite the help he brings to the Predators blue line.

Fabbro played the full 2019-20 season at the NHL level, recording 11 points in 64 outings. He was no slouch defensively, either, adding 85 blocked shots and 54 hits while skating 19:02 per game. The 22-year-old blueliner looks locked and loaded as a top-four option for the Predators in 2020-21, which should see him continue to contribute a little bit in each of the physical categories while flourishing closer to the 20-point threshold on offense. A first-round pick from 2016, Fabbro may not be quite at the level needed for widespread fantasy relevance, but he'll be worth a look in any format counting blocked shots.

After finishing his junior season at Boston University, Fabbro signed with the Predators and appeared in 10 NHL games, including six playoff contests, last season, notching two points and eight shots on goal over that span. The 21-year-old has a ton of offensive upside, and now that P.K. Subban is no longer in the picture, he could be in line for top-four minutes and a spot on Nashville's second power-play unit in 2019-20. Whether that will come to fruition remains to be seen, but the 2016 first-round pick is definitely worth a flier in the later rounds of fantasy drafts this season as a high-upside/low-ceiling gamble.

Selected by the Preds with the 17th overall pick in the 2016 Entry Draft, Fabbro is about as close to being a complete package as you can get for a young defenseman. He's smart, positionally sound, has a high stress threshold, stickhandles well and is a great passer. The only real knocks against him at this point are his shot and his skating -- both good, but not exceptional. Fortunately, these are aspects of one's game that can be worked on. Looking ahead, Fabbro is committed to playing at Boston College this season, so he's not expected to land in the NHL anytime soon. However, Fabbro will also likely play for Team Canada at this year's World Junior Championships, which will provide him a great opportunity to hone his skills. Fabbro is all but a lock to be a top-four NHL defender someday, and a very good one at that. Those of you in keeper leagues, take note.