Wild Acquire Robby Fabbri
On Monday, the Minnesota Wild made headlines by acquiring experienced forward Robby Fabbri after claiming him off waivers from the St. Louis Blues. This strategic move was accompanied by the decision to place Tyler Pitlick, previously of the Montreal Canadiens, on waivers. A report from Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman confirmed this action.
Tyler Pitlick’s Season Overview
Tyler Pitlick has had a challenging season, primarily competing in minor league hockey with the Providence Bruins last year. So far this season, he has participated in 32 games with the Wild, where he tallied two goals along with significant physical play—recording 24 penalty minutes and delivering 78 hits. If Pitlick goes unclaimed on waivers, he will likely be reassigned to the Iowa Wild, Minnesota’s AHL affiliate, where he has proven to be an asset, scoring eight goals and accumulating 11 points in just 12 games.
Background on Tyler Pitlick
Pitlick’s journey in the NHL began when the Montreal Canadiens acquired him during the 2021-22 season as part of the trade that sent star forward Tyler Toffoli to the Calgary Flames. While with the Canadiens, he played in 14 games, contributing one goal and three points.
Erik Gustafsson’s Waiver Situation
Interestingly, he isn’t the only former member of the Canadiens to face waivers recently. Defenseman Erik Gustafsson, who previously played for Montreal, has also been put on waivers by the Detroit Red Wings. Gustafsson’s performance this season with Detroit has been underwhelming, featuring just two games with no points and a minus-2 rating. However, he has been more productive in the AHL with the Grand Rapids Griffins, where he scored two goals and amassed 20 points across 22 games.
Gustafsson’s Previous Contributions
In a short stint with the Canadiens during the 2020-2021 season, Gustafsson recorded two assists over five regular-season appearances and contributed a goal and three points in 16 playoff games for the team in 2021.
Conclusion
The situation highlights the fluid dynamics within the NHL as teams look to optimize their rosters while navigating the complexities of player performance and availability.
