Fantasy Take: Red Wings Land Recent Cup Winner Vladimir Tarasenko then Offload Fabbri
Alexander MacLean
2024-07-03
Detroit double-dips on the right side in free agency, landing Vladimir Tarasenko to go with already having signed Patrick Kane. Tarasenko brings his cup win from two weeks ago, and comes in on a very reasonable $4.75 million cap hit for the next two seasons. Tarasenko is joining his fourth Eastern Conference team in the last two years.
In a subsequent deal, the Red Wings then dumped Robby Fabbri on the Anaheim Ducks along with a swap of minor pieces:
What the Red Wings Get:
The Red Wings acquire a natural finisher that should fit in well with their existing crop of top-six forwards. Tarasenko has shown himself to be a 60-point forward the last few years, and this move likely doesn't change that. What it likely does though is lock out any of the younger players like Michael Rasmussen, Jonatan Berggren, or even Nate Danielson from having a shot in the top-six.
Tarasenko has predominantly been a RW as aa left shot throughout his career, but he played well on the left side in Florida, and with Kane and Lucas Raymond already entrenched on that wing, it's likely that Tank ends up playing his strong side. This move should help J.T. Compher's outlook, as well as bringing a few more points spread across the D-core.
On the flips side, he Panthers lose another winger here, and that bodes well for the remaining guys who might otherwise be middle-six players t best, such as Eetu Luostarinen, Jesper Boqvist and Evan Rodrigues.
What the Ducks Get:
Fabbri is a 40-point player who feels like he could have been so much more if he hadn’t had such bad luck with injuries. Multiples ACL surgeries, along with a myriad of other injuries have sidetracked him, but he should still be a very viable third-line piece for the Ducks to support their youth.
If he can find his way onto a top-six line alongside someone like Mason McTavish or Leo Carlsson, and then also find a way to stay healthy all year, Fabbri could surprise a few people down south. His solid first half of 19 points in 31 games was overshadowed by a slow second half.
Players this helps (ordered most to least):
Players this hurts: