Detroit Red Wings: Robby Fabbri needs big year to earn another extension

The Detroit Red Wings 2021-22 team is taking shape. The offseason is not quite over, but the team’s roster is starting to show who could end up where. There are still plenty of questions to be asked, but when looking at Robby Fabbri and his upcoming season, there is some certainty.

Before the 2020-21 season, the Detroit Red Wings handed out a contract extension to Robby Fabbri. He was given a two-year, $5.9 million contract extension that runs through the end of the 2021-22 season. He turned some heads in his first showing after being acquired from the St. Louis Blues.

However, if he wants to remain in a red and white sweater beyond this year, he’s going to have to prove he can produce. His change of scenery and first showing in Detroit was promising. He looked great and had the appearance of a steady second-line forward.

In 2020-21, Fabbri got incredibly lucky throughout the season and only ended up playing thirty games due to time off the ice with injury/COVID-19 issues. So if he wants to prove he is able to be a productive member of the roster and earn an extension, now is the time to do it.

Robby Fabbri needs a big season for the Detroit Red Wings in 2021-22.

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In 2020-21, Robby Fabbri may have only logged 30 games where he had 10 goals and eight assists for 18 total points on the season.

He was very lucky last year, according to his PDO. Confused about what PDO is and how/why it matters? Click here for the answer and its relation to Fabbri’s 2020-21 season.

Under the circumstances, Fabbri did perform pretty well. The fact that he had COVID-19 and battled back and found success after he returned is remarkable and should be applauded and considered when analyzing his season.

But, the bottom line is, he did not get a full season in, and the stats are not reflective of what a full season of production could have looked like.

Not to say that his contract is heavy and carries a lot of weight, but after being given a two-year extension, the expectation should be for Fabbri to show something over the full season sample.

The Red Wings need Fabbri to produce if he wants to stick around. Keeping him around is not a bad idea, given that he can be reliable. However, the Red Wings need him to prove that he can do it over a full season.

No injuries, no pandemic shortened circumstances, just an 82-game season where Fabbri can strut his stuff. The hope should be that he puts on a show and proves he is a staple second-line player for this organization.