Blues trade Fabbri to Red Wings

Former first round pick in 2014 dealt to Detroit for Jacob de la Rose; 

frustrated by recent lack of playing time, injuries, Fabbri gets fresh start

By LOU KORAC
ST. LOUIS -- The Robby Fabbri era is over with the Blues.

After a 5-2 win at Edmonton on Wednesday to stretch their winning streak to six and eight of nine, the Blues sent Fabbri to the Detroit Red Wings in a 1-for-1 deal in exchange for fellow forward Jacob de la Rose.

Robby Fabbri

Fabbri, who has battled a rash of injuries since 2017, including two torn ACL's in his left knee that sidelined him for the remainder of the 2016-17 season and all of 2017-18, hasn't been able to get back to his pre-injury game. He has been a healthy scratch the past five games and eight of the past nine games. He had one goal in nine games this season.

Fabbri, 23, was a 2014 first-round pick by the Blues and burst onto the scene with the Blues with 37 points (18 goals, 19 assists) in 72 games as a rookie in 2016-17. He was part of the Blues' most dangerous line with Paul Stastny and Troy Brouwer as the Blues made a run to the Western Conference Final before losing to San Jose in six games. Fabbri had 15 points (four goals, 11 assists) in 20 playoff games.

Fabbri was off to another solid start in 2016-17 with 29 points (11 goals, 18 assists) in 51 games before he was checked along the boards by Carter Rowney on Feb. 4, 2017 against the Pittsburgh Penguins. He hasn't been the same since.

Fabbri re-injured the left knee in a preseason game on Sept. 22, 2017 against the Washington Capitals and would miss the entire season. He came back last year and was the victim of multiple injuries, including a separated shoulder and finished with just six points (two goals, four assists) in 32 regular-season games and one goal in 10 playoff games last season.

But Fabbri was having trouble finding his niche and what his identity would be with the Blues this season, and after a preseason in which he looked quick again and regained some of his speed from before the injuries, he became increasingly frustrated with his recent healthy scratches.

Coincidentally, his last game with the Blues was Oct. 27 ... in a 5-4 overtime win at Detroit, which began this current six-game winning streak.

"We wish him all the best; he's a great kid," Blues coach Craig Berube said of Fabbri after the game Wednesday. "He's a hard-working guy, and he fell on some injuries and stuff around here. We wish him all the best. He's a really good guy."

Fabbri was a popular teammate and has a Stanley Cup to his pedigree, took his lack of playing time in stride and was patient while he was rehabbing, but this is probably best for his career. He will get to play in Detroit, which is struggling at 4-12-1 in the Eastern Conference.

As for de la Rose, 24, he was originally drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in the second round of the 2013 draft. This season, the 6-foot-3, 215-pound forward has played in 16 games with the Red Wings and has a goal and three assists and was a plus-3. He will likely get fourth-line minutes with the Blues.

"He's a big center, winger, Swedish guy," Berube said. "Smart hockey player, good skater. We'll see when he gets here. We'll take a look at him and see where he fits in."

(St. Louis Blues photo)

The Blues acquired Jacob de la Rose (pictured) on Wednesday from Detroit

in exchange for Robby Fabbri.

Overall, de la Rose has played in 195 regular-season games with the Canadiens and Red Wings; he has 32 points (12 goals, 20 assists). 

The Arvika, Sweden was part of the Swedish national team that captured a gold medal at the 2018 World Championships.

Both Fabbri and de la Rose both have $900,000 cap hits remaining on their contracts, Fabbri's being a one-year deal and de la Rose a two-year contract and both will be restricted free agents next summer.