The Boston Bruins are looking to bolster their blue line after a disappointing season.
Following the trade of Brandon Carlo to the Toronto Maple Leafs at the trade deadline, the Bruins are expected to target a replacement in free agency. According to The Athletic‘s Fluto Shinzawa, Boston is eyeing a four-year, $16 million deal for Dante Fabbro, who would slot into Carlo’s spot on the second defensive pair.
“Fabbro, a right-shot defenseman, brings a completely different style than the stay-at-home Carlo,” Shinzawa writes. “His puck-moving ability would help the team better handle opposing forechecks.”
Fabbro, a former first-round pick, had a breakout season with the Columbus Blue Jackets after receiving a larger role than he did with the Nashville Predators. In 68 games across both teams, the 26-year-old recorded 9 goals and 17 assists, though he went pointless in his brief six-game stint with Nashville.
Bruins Eyeing a Quick Return to Playoff Contention
While Boston struggled in the second half of the season, finishing with the second-worst record in the East, general manager Don Sweeney is determined to get the team back into the playoff race. “We’re going to use every mechanism possible,” Sweeney said about improving the roster.
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Retaining Dante Fabbro for Another Year is a Brilliant Move for Nashville PredatorsDante Fabbro
CEO Charlie Jacobs echoed this optimism, stating, “With the additions we intend to make this summer, I anticipate we’ll be a playoff team and playing meaningful hockey by 2026.”
The Bruins finished the season with a 33-39-10 record.
Aggressive Moves Expected in the Offseason
The Bruins have nearly $29 million in cap space, prompting NHL insider Ty Anderson to predict they’ll be aggressive in free agency. “I believe they’ll spend to the cap and be major players,” Anderson said. “They’re not a team that’s going for a rebuild. Ownership is not about that, and they expect to compete immediately.”
The Bruins failed to make the playoffs for the first time since 2015-16, but with ample cap space and a clear drive to improve, they’re expected to make significant moves to retool for next season.