Dante Fabbro is staying with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
According to NHL Insider Darren Dreger, the two have agreed to a four-year, $4.125 million annual average extension.
Fabbro was originally drafted 17th overall by the Nashville Predators in the 2016 Draft, where he spent the first seven years of his career. However, the Predators placed Fabbro on waivers in November of 2024, and Columbus seized the opportunity.
Fabbro became an instant contributor with the Blue Jackets, netting 9 goals and 26 points over 62 games while averaging the third-most ice time (21:39) per game among skaters. At 27 years old, this term will give Fabbro another opportunity (or two) to earn a big payday.
Columbus has historically struggled to attract free agents, and retaining Fabbro, who was set to hit free agency this summer, bodes well for its future.
The Blue Jackets still have over $28.5 million to spend, and while some of that should be preserved for eventual restricted free agents such as Adam Fantilli and Cole Sillinger, it gives them plenty of options.
Fabbro should be a core piece of this Columbus team on the rise. He has decent size at 6-feet, 189 pounds, and plays the two-way game necessary to thrive in today’s NHL.
The Blue Jackets have not reached the postseason since 2020, but narrowly missed out on the second Eastern Conference Wild Card spot by two points. Keeping Fabbro around will do wonders for their 2025-26 odds.
Now, Columbus can dedicate some of those resources on another top-six forward and break the playoff drought.
