Tweets of note: Raymond and Seider in record-tying territory

Of note from Bally Sports Detroit…

The kids are prospering, the time is now. #LGRW pic.twitter.com/DanlkgdXf8— Bally Sports Detroit (@BallySportsDET) December 15, 2021

And the NHL:

Moritz Seider recorded his 20th career point (3-17—20 in 29 GP). He required the third-fewest games by a rookie defenseman to reach the mark with the @DetroitRedWings behind Nicklas Lidstrom (22 GP) and Jeff Sharples (26 GP).#NHLStats: https://t.co/GmoeSVNw6v pic.twitter.com/vbN2MHuiGg— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) December 15, 2021

Red Wings post a Fabbri article, too

DetroitRedWings.com’s Brett McWethy got in on the Robby Fabbri article parade this afternoon, discussing the 25-year-old’s 3-year extension with Detroit:

What’s impressed Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill about Fabbri is that he plays “extraordinarily hard.” It’s an edge that Fabbri quickly regained after fully recovering from his injuries shortly after arriving in Detroit and having a conversation with Blashill about avoiding to play “careful.”

“Everybody in this league plays hard, but he’s, I think, played extraordinarily hard, and I think that’s who he is as a person,” Blashill said. “I think this year especially, from the drop of the puck in training camp, from the first practice, he’s done an excellent job of really, really competing on a day-to-day basis.

“To me, then he gets to use his skillset and he can really shoot the puck in the net, and he’s got good hockey smarts. He can separate himself with that competitiveness, that’s what he’s gotta do.”

abbri had previously inked a deal with the Red Wings, signing a two-year contact in August 2020. Now, the 25-year-old is a long-term piece of the Red Wings’ youthful group that is aiming to send Detroit back to the postseason.

“Not only Bert, Larks, myself; it’s a full team effort in there,” Fabbri said. “Whatever everyone brings every night and every single day in practice is what’s helping us grow, become a little more consistent. We still got room for improvement; we all know that in that room, and what we gotta work on. But it’s fun coming to the rink every day and doing it with these guys.”

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Duff’s notebook: Breaking down Fabbri’s extension

Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff posted a subscriber-only article discussing Robby Fabbri’s extension with the Red Wings:

Fabbri was part of a Stanley Cup winner in St. Louis and he’s carrying on with that winning approach as a Red Wing.

“I think for a player to help you win long term, one he’s gotta be a winner of a person,” Blashill explained. “He’s gotta be committed to winning above everything else, and I think Robby’s that. Two, he’s gotta be the type of player that can win when it gets tough and hard and I think Robby can do that.

“Robby’s shown us that not only is he a guy that could help us over the last couple of years but can also help us win as we try to move up the standings.”

At 25, he fits right in with much of the veteran core forwards who figure to be around when the good times arrive again for the Red Wings. Larkin and Suter are also 25. Bertuzzi and Adam Erne are 26. It certainly wasn’t hurting Fabbri’s cause that neither of Detroit’s 2018 first-round draft picks – Filip Zadina and Joe Veleno – have proven yet that they can be consistent offensive producers at the NHL level.

It’s entirely possible that as the talent pool deepens in Detroit, Fabbri may slide down into a third-line role. Whatever the case, it’s clear now that Fabbri is going to part of the Red Wings rebuild over the long haul, and that prospect is exciting to him.

“What everyone brings every single night and every day at practice is what’s helping us grow and become a little more consistent,” Fabbri said. “We still got room for improvement, we all know that and what we got to work on but it’s fun coming to the rink every day.”

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Monroe: With Fulcher recalled to Grand Rapids, Walleye sign an emergency back-up

From the Toledo Blade’s Mark Monroe on Twitter: The Grand Rapids Griffins recalled Kaden Fulcher from the ECHL today, so the Toledo Walleye made a move:

The Walleye play games on Friday, Saturday and Sunday; Billy Christopoulos may start all three games.

Prospect round-up, Europe: Soderblom 1+1 for Frolunda as both Frolunda and Rogle advance to meet in Champions League semifinal

Of Red Wings prospect-related note in Europe today:

William Wallinder finished at -1 with 1 shot and a penalty minute played as Rogle BK lost 3-1 to Sparta Prague, but Rogle advanced to the semifinals against Frolunda HC on aggregate goals…

And Elmer Soderblom scored a goal and added an assist for 2 points, finishing at +1 with 3 shots in 12:44 played as Frolunda HC tied Leskands IF 3-3, but advanced on aggregate goals:

Highlights of Elmer Söderblom’s game today against Leksand in the Champions Hockey League, where he had 1 goal, 1 assist, hit 1 post, and had another assist on a disallowed goal. #LGRW pic.twitter.com/8OlWiH39YT— IcehockeyGifs (@IcehockeyG) December 14, 2021

Kulfan’s notebook: Fabbri happy to re-sign with Red Wings

The Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan posted a notebook article regarding Robby Fabbri signing a 3-year, $12 million contract extension with the Red Wings yesterday evening:

In St. Louis, despite being a first-round pick in 2014 and being part of the 2019 Stanley Cup champion, Fabbri saw his playing time dwindle and his spot on the depth chart insecure after two major knee surgeries.

Coming to the Wings was an opportunity to spark his career.

“I was excited, a fresh start over here,” Fabbri said of his reaction to the trade, and immediate impact (he scored two power-play goals his first game). “There were some familiar faces (Fabbri was a junior teammate of Tyler Bertuzzi) and it was exciting. Things got off to a good start, and it’s been great ever since.

“Basically I was just trying to get my career on track and playing to the level I know I can play at.”

The progress the Wings have shown this season, along with the growing excitement around Little Caesars Arena fans, excites Fabbri.

“The fans have been great,” Fabbri said. “We’ve been feeding off what they’ve been feeling this year. We’re feeling the same way in the room. We’re just trying to get better and it’s fun to be with this group right now and working towards what we want to be in the future.”

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Red Savage, Carter Mazur make U.S. 25-man roster for World Junior Championship

Team USA announced its roster for the World Junior Championship today, and both Red Savage and Carter Mazur made the cut!

HSJ’s notebook: Fabbri’s become an integral part of the Wings’ attack

The Free Press’s Helene St. James filed a notebook article regarding Red Wings forward Robby Fabbri’s signing of a 3-year, $12 million contract extension with Detroit last night:

“When he came in, we definitely needed help,” coach Jeff Blashill said. “Our team struggled that year — we didn’t play very good hockey and so right away, I knew he could help that team. The question you ask yourself is, can the player help you win long term. For a player to help you win long-term, one, he’s got to be a winner of a person. He’s got to be committed to win above everything else, and Robby is that. Two, he’s got to be the type of player who can win when it gets tough and hard, and I think Robby can do that. Robby has shown us that not only is he a guy who helped us over the last couple years, but can also help us win as we try to move up the standings.”

There was talk last season of Fabbri playing more at center than wing, but that abated when Yzerman signed center Pius Suter last offseason. Fabbri and Suter — who seven years ago played together with the Guelph Storm — have formed a solid pairing this season: Both are smart, play bigger than their 5-foot-11, around 180-pound bodies, and have some grit to their games.

“I think him and Suits have been a pretty good pairing together,” Blashill said. “We’re just trying to figure out the best way for each line to be successful and figuring out what the best three-man combo is for that group is still important. They’ve created lots of chances over the course of the season. I didn’t think Robby got rewarded with the number of chances he created early and he’s been rewarded more lately. He can score, for sure.”

Fabbri, who turns 26 in January, fits into the early-to-mid 20s age group of the core rebuild group.

Blashill described him as a winning-type player who had the mental fortitude to not let his knee injuries soften his play for long: “When he got here, we had a conversation early about, you’re not going to be a really good player if you play careful. You have to have that great intensity in order to make up for maybe a lack of size and a lack of speed. He’s done that.”

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