Fabbri excited for two more years with Red Wings

When the Red Wings traded center Jacob de la Rose to the St. Louis Blues for Robby Fabbri on Nov. 6, they were looking for some offensive firepower.
Fabbri showed enough of that that the Wings
signed the restricted free agent to a two-year contract extension Monday at an average annual value of $2.95 million
.

In his first two seasons with the Blues, Fabbri had 29 goals and 37 assists in 123 games before suffering two serious knee injuries.
Fabbri, 24, scored two goals in his first game with the Wings on Nov. 8, a 4-2 victory over the Boston Bruins at Little Caesars Arena.

Both were assisted by Fabbri's former teammate on the Guelph Storm, Tyler Bertuzzi.
Fabbri is only the seventh player in franchise history to score two goals in his debut and the second in the last 34 years.
It all seemed to be a fairly seamless transition for Fabbri, who finished with 14 goals and 17 assists in 52 games with the Wings.
"I think part of it was from day one walking into that dressing room, the guys were so welcoming and it was easy for me to get comfortable," Fabbri said on a Zoom call late Monday afternoon. "I've been waiting for that opportunity to play again and to prove that I'm still a good player in this league. I knew with that opportunity, I was going to give it everything I had and not let it go to waste. I couldn't have been happier that it's here in Detroit."

The Blues originally drafted Fabbri in the first round, 21st overall, in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft but with him missing so much time rehabilitating the knee injuries, it forced the Blues to find other options.
When Fabbri returned to full health, he found his ice time and opportunity had diminished so he welcomed coming to Detroit, even though the Wings are in a rebuilding phase.
"I think it's more just the potential that group has in there," Fabbri said. "You can see it though parts of the season, everyone can see it. Looking for that consistency and to keep building as a team as we move forward here is important. Just with the Red Wings team there, they've been a great team for however many years, been a great organization.
"I couldn't be more excited to be here for another two years and then go from there."
Late in the season, Fabbri played some games at center, which he said is his natural position.
"In St. Louis, I was a wing right away and have been at wing, like I said, until the last handful of games. But my whole life before that was center," Fabbri said. "It helped playing wing as well so I'm comfortable all over the ice. But being able to play center and have the puck in your hands and have it in the middle of the ice with speed really helps me with my game and that's where I thrive.
"I really enjoyed it the last handful of games there when I was at center before the season paused. Looking forward to taking on that role if that's the position they put me in. I think it's a little early now for them to be thinking lineup-wise until we get some things going. I felt comfortable and I really enjoyed it."

Fabbri said he has been busy training in Toronto, where he lives in the offseason.
"I've been in the gym and on the ice for over a month now, doing my best to stay in shape," Fabbri said. "I have a little experience with this long time off, so I understand what to do for myself and keep myself ready. "It's definitely a lot different getting dressed in the trunk of my car but we're doing what we can to get out there."
It's also been a momentous offseason for Fabbri in his personal life as he and his longtime girlfriend, Kassandra Marchioni, got engaged at the beginning of June.
Instagram from @huncho1\_: MOMMY AND DADDY ARE ENGAGED💍 We are so happy for them!! 💍🍾🤍
"Yeah, it was something I've been thinking about for a little bit now," Fabbri said. "She's been with me along the whole way, through the ups and the downs. So, the plans I had before COVID for the engagement were a little bit different but it all worked out and has been great for us so far."
Fabbri said the two have set a date for 2022.
In the meantime, Fabbri said he has been watching some of the NHL playoffs in the bubbles in Toronto and Edmonton.
"Watching it is a little bit different than being in it for sure," he said. "I don't know the feeling of playing there with no fans but with everything they've done to allow them to play, what they've done with the crowds and the noise, sounds like they've done a great job. I know it's different, you're not getting the home and on the road feeling of going into different buildings. There's always those tough buildings to go into. I think it was an adjustment period for everyone but it looks like it's going really well."
Although he isn't experiencing it himself, Fabbri has heard about playoff bubble life from the inside.
"I've talked to guys in both bubbles, friends and former teammates," Fabbri said. "There's an adjustment period but at the end of the day everyone is there to do same thing and that's to win a Stanley Cup. All that aside, I think everyone is just happy to be there."
For his part, Fabbri is happy to be able to make his home in Detroit for at least the next couple of seasons and is hoping for success like the Wings used to have not so long ago.
"I think if you ask any player in the league, there's a little bit added stress on a one-year contract but to get a little bit of a cushion there is nice," Fabbri said. "I'm confident in myself. I can always see myself improving and getting better here with this team as we come together as a group and do some good things in the future here."