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.”

Continued (paywall)

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.”

Continued

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.”

Continued (paywall)

Griffins get Fulcher on reassignment, sign Gordi Myer to pro try-out

From the Grand Rapids Griffins:

FULCHER RETURNS ON REASSIGNMENT, MYER SIGNS PTO

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday reassigned goaltender Kaden Fulcher to the Grand Rapids Griffins from the Toledo Walleye (ECHL). In addition, Grand Rapids signed defenseman Gordi Myer to a professional tryout.
Fulcher returns to Grand Rapids after being featured on the Griffins’ roster from Nov. 17-Dec. 4 but did not see any game time. The netminder competed with Grand Rapids in the 2020-21 season and posted a 2-2-2 record with one shutout and a 2.84 goals against average. With Toledo, Fulcher has registered a 4-3-0 ledger this season with two shutouts. The fourth-year pro places second in the ECHL with a 1.70 goals against average while his 0.924 save percentage is ranked 11th. Through 46 pro games, Fulcher has a 21-14-9 record with a 2.88 goals against average and a 0.888 save percentage.

Myer has yet to appear in an AHL contest through the first two seasons of his pro career. The Ohio State University product spent his rookie campaign with the ECHL’s Greenville Swamp Rabbits in 2020-21, logging 10 points (4-6—10) and two penalty minutes in 36 games. Myer, now part of the Toledo Walleye, has recorded nine points (1-8—9) in 20 games this season in the ECHL.

Islanders game-day updates: Morning skate audio and Trotz on the Wings and Isles COVID woes

The Red Wings face the New York Islanders tonight, and news broke during the Islanders’ morning skate that Mathew Barzal will miss the game due to COVID protocols.

The Islanders posted audio clips of coach Barry Trotz and forward Cal Clutterbuck and defenseman Scott Mayfield…

? Clutterbuck & Mayfield Pregame Availability ? pic.twitter.com/kJdB8qUwSV— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) December 14, 2021

? Trotz Pregame Availability ? pic.twitter.com/SPadgfzPhD— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) December 14, 2021

And coach Trotz said this about the Red Wings-Islanders match-up to NYI Hockey Now’s Christian Anderson…

Tuesday’s news hasn’t changed much of the Islanders’ approach to their meeting at Little Ceasers Arean with the Detroit Red Wings.

“Mat’s been really good on the power play for us. Our power play has been getting some traction and rhythm,” Trotz said. “We’ll miss him there, but a good option in a guy like (Brock Nelson) and (Anthony Beauvillier) maybe Possibly going in there. They’re good options, but Barzy has done a real good job. In terms of gameplan, it doesn’t change a whole lot. Detroit plays a certain way. The only thing that’s really different from them is Tyler Bertuzzi is in tonight versus he wasn’t in against us last time. … Other than that it won’t change the gameplan. We’re still going to have to play the way we play just with the guys that are available.”

While NewYorkIslanders.com’s Cory Wright noted how COVID has decimated the Islanders’ roster:

Barzal leads the Islanders with 17 points (5G, 12A) and is currently riding a six-game point streak (1G, 8A). The center has been remarkably durable during his NHL career, only missing one game since the start of the 2017-18 regular season, as the Islanders were resting players ahead of the last year’s playoffs. 

Trotz said the Islanders will miss Barzal’s presence on the power play, but will have to find a way to win without the center. 

“Mat’s been really good on the power play for us and our power play is getting a little bit of traction and rhythm. We’ll miss him there,” Trotz said. “In terms of game plan, it doesn’t change a whole lot… we’re still going to have to play the way we play, just with the guys who are available.”

Barzal is the ninth Islander to enter protocol this season after Josh Bailey, Kieffer Bellows, Zdeno Chara, Casey Cizikas, Andy Greene, Ross Johnston, Anders Lee and Adam Pelech.