The Nashville Predators made some huge decisions at the 2023 Trade Deadline and David Poile set his successor, Barry Trotz, up for success by acquiring a ton of picks and prospects while cleaning the slate. Though the team was a big seller at the deadline, they remain competitive with some elite players. The Predators are looking towards the future as a number of young players have been inserted into the lineup. As with every team, there are going to be some who won’t return next season.
Dante Fabbro
The most impactful of the players on the current Predators’ roster that won’t be back next season is Dante Fabbro. Though the team is getting younger, the young defenceman has taken a big step back this season after the addition of Ryan McDonagh last offseason. It pushed him to the third pairing and out of favour. As a result, his ice time has dropped by three minutes from what he has averaged throughout his first three seasons in the NHL, and his production has dipped with it.
Fabbro has been forced to play a bigger and more defensive game. His physicality has increased, but so has the percentage of draws he’s started in the defensive zone as opposed to the offensive zone. He has now been in the NHL long enough to see the type of player he can become. The step back this season hasn’t been great. Now that Mattias Ekholm has been traded, Fabbro has moved back up the lineup for the time being. But with the additions of Tyson Barrie and Cal Foote at the deadline, he could lose a ton of playing time and opportunity upon the return of Alexandre Carrier. A change in scenery may be best at this point. There was trade interest before the deadline and Fabbro was believed to be the young defenceman the team was shopping. He was extended for one year to likely help with any trade in the offseason.
Rasmus Asplund
Rasmus Asplund was a recent acquisition at the deadline from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for a seventh-round pick. It was a low price to pay for a young-ish player with some potential. The Sabres didn’t have room in their forward group and Nashville needed bodies this season after trading some off and dealing with injuries. The Predators are at least giving Asplund a shot in their lineup, but that could just last until the end of the season.
Related: Predators 2023 NHL Trade Deadline Grades
Latest News & Highlights
There is more than enough opportunity for players to play key roles and…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at The Hockey Writers…