The Blue Jackets have brought Dante Fabbro back onto the active roster.
According to a team announcement, Columbus activated the defenseman from injured reserve. The club had an open roster spot, so no corresponding move was required.
Fabbro, 28, has been sidelined by a broken hand he suffered in preseason. The right-shot defenseman is set to return after missing the first four weeks of the regular season and Columbus’ first nine games of the 2026-27 campaign.
Practice line rushes pointed to Fabbro slotting into the bottom pairing with Erik Gudbranson. That would mark his ninth NHL season and his second full year with the Blue Jackets.
Columbus originally claimed Fabbro off waivers from the Nashville Predators around this time a few years ago, and his early run with the team went well. He most often skated alongside Zach Werenski, and that stretch produced nine goals and 26 points in 62 games with a plus-23 rating while averaging 21:39 of ice time per night. At even strength, he also posted a 91.7% on-ice save percentage, which stood as one of the stronger marks of his career.
That performance led the Blue Jackets to lock him up on a four-year, $16.5MM deal carrying a $4.125MM AAV. Last season, though, his play slipped.
Fabbro ended the 2025-26 campaign with five goals and 11 points in 74 games, a minus-16 rating, and 16:34 of ice time per game. He still blocked shots at a strong clip, but most of his offensive and defensive numbers dropped.
Ivan Provorov is the lone Blue Jackets defenseman still on injured reserve as he works back from a lower-body injury.
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