After returning to the Detroit Red Wings roster, Robby Fabbri has breathed life into the team

The Detroit Red Wings recently welcomed back a member of the team’s third line, C/LW- Robby Fabbri, who had been rehabbing from a third torn ACL injury. Fabbri has been a big boost to a Red Wings team that needed one. Three goals in four games played do not tell the whole story. Robby Fabbri is bringing a physical aspect to a Detroit forwards group that needs to show a bit more grit.

Often, a player returning from injury holds back and is a bit timid. Not Fabbri; while he is not playing with reckless abandon, he is playing fearless hockey and what is equally remarkable is Fabbri did not need an adjustment period to get his legs under him. He hit the ice, ready to go.

Playing with bite, the Red Wings anxiously awaited his return which was scheduled for early January. Fabbri’s play has brought a significant uptick in energy that seems to be ineluctable to the rest of the team. Getting Fabbri back has created depth in Detroit’s lineup; also, the return of Tyler Bertuzzi has added depth and quality depth at that.

Fabbri is a solid two-way player and has pushed the Red Wings all round tempo. The team has been playing much quicker since his return. Playing well in the defensive end and laying out some big hits, Fabbri has been a physical presence that has been one of the biggest boosts.

Derek Lalonde is getting his first up-close look at Fabbri and is impressed by the spark he has brought to the lineup. Lalonde said ordinarily he would caution against burnout, but talking with players and GM, Steve Yzerman is not concerned as all parties have said this is how Fabbri plays the game.

Fabbri has said he has zero plans to alter his game. Lalonde and the Red Wings should be happy about that. Playing LW- partly because the Red Wings are giving him time to adjust even more and because Dylan Larkin, Michael Rasmussen, Andrew Copp, and Joe Veleno are all slotted at center. This is not a bad thing, as it allows Fabbri more freedom to be creative with and without the puck; in other words, it makes him more dangerous.

The Detroit Red Wings have played much better with the return of Fabbri and yes Tyler Bertuzzi; the team looks to have weathered the storm of injuries and looks to build upon recent consistent play.


Discover more from Inside The Rink

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Leave a Reply

Montreal Canadiens Re-Sign Jayden Struble

The Montreal Canadiens and defenseman Jayden Struble have avoided arbitration by agreeing to a two-year, one-way deal worth $1.4 million. This deal carries him through the 2026-27 season. Struble, 23, spent the majority of last season with the Canadiens, putting up two goals and 11 assists for 13 points in 56 games. His 13 points […]

Read More
NHL Game Preview: Montreal Canadiens at Detroit Red Wings with Line Combinations 12/21/2024

Opinion: The Red Wings are Closer than You Think

By the time it was over, the 2023-24 season gave little hope to Red Wings fans. Montreal, Columbus and Ottawa all passed them in points this season, both Ottawa and Montreal broke the playoff barrier and ended their droughts. Fans and media alike deemed this offseason as one where the Red Wings needed to make […]

Read More
Ben Scrivens of the Edmonton Oilers

Ghosts Of Oilers Past: Ben Scrivens

With goaltending becoming a more humongous topic among Oilers fans than it already was prior to this season, why not have some fun and reminisce about one of the very few good highlights during the Decade of Darkness? The most historic performance by a goalie in the regular season happened on a team that, at […]

Read More