Insider Reveals if Edmonton Oilers Will Claim Dante Fabbro on Waivers

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Liam McCormick
November 9, 2024 (9:10 PM)

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The Edmonton Oilers are in dire need of a top four defenceman this season, so all of Oil Country perked up when Dante Favbro was placed on waivers.

Fabbro is a 26 year old right shot defenceman and a former first round pick of the Nashville Predators, who many analysts believe could be an under the radar pickup. However, Elliotte Friedman claimed on Saturday's Headline tonight that no team will claim Fabbro.

»I have people saying that they don't think he's going to get claimed, simply because of the money, $2.5M. There's not a lot of teams that can handle that.»
- Elliotte Friedman

The Oilers are actually one of the very few teams who could handle adding $2.5M in salary right now, but it would require the team to place Evander Kane on LTIR. Kane is still on the active roster, allowing the Oilers to accrue as much cap space as possible through the season. If they add $2.5M now, they won't be able to acquire as salary much as the trade deadline.

Fabbro was still one of the players near the top of the list of Oilers trade targets for many analysts, but perhaps they wait longer for more cap flexibility and to add a higher impact player. Fabbro has been scratched for several games this year and last, which is a sign of concern. Placing him on waivers is an admission the team's ready to give up on him.

Friedman did qualify that he could be wrong, but it seems that the Oilers don't think it's worth it to place a claim on Fabbro and take his full $2.5M salary. Maybe a trade with retention comes later, but a waiver claim may not be the best route for Edmonton.