Oilers Expected To Claim Former First Round Draft Pick on Waivers

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Liam McCormick
November 9, 2024 (3:35 PM)

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The Nashville Predators may have given an absolute gift to the Edmonton Oilers with Dante Fabbro placed on waivers.

Edmonton has been in the trade market for a top four right shot defenceman, and Fabbro has been named as one team interested in him. Several NHL insiders believe it's a layup that the Oilers will claim Fabbro.

Fabbro was a first round draft pick of the Predators in 2016, and has gone on to play 315 career games in Nashville. He's posted decent analytical results through his whole career, but has begun to fall out of the lineup with the Predators, and has only played 6 games this year. He's only under contract for this season at $2.5M.

Just earlier today, Elliotte Friedman named the Oilers and Predators as potential trade partners in the near future. Edmonton would clearly be interested in a player like Fabbro but may not be able to take his full $2.5M salary. If Fabbro passes through waivers, it's possible the Oilers make a trade for him with retained salary.

It's also very possible that the Oilers place a claim on Fabbro, or even more possible, that a team below them in the waiver order places a claim. A team like the San Jose Sharks is in desperate need of young defenceman, and they've got the salary space and ice time to make a claim before Edmonton.

Fabbro has posted good results in his career and is positionally a fit for Edmonton, but it would be a miracle if he turned out to be the top four defender they need next to Darnell Nurse. It would be a significant risk to take at $2.5M with Stecher and Dermott on the roster. If the Oilers do make the move to get Fabbro, it'll be a sign they're very confident in the player.