Robby Fabbri
A former first-round pick who overcame multiple knee injuries to capture a Stanley Cup.
Robert Fabbri is a Canadian professional forward who most recently played for the Minnesota Wild as an unrestricted free agent. Born in Mississauga, Ontario, he was drafted 21st overall by the St. Louis Blues in 2014 before moving to Detroit and Anaheim. A pivotal moment in his career occurred when he became the youngest player in franchise history to score a goal for the Blues during the 2015–16 season. Fabbri's journey includes winning the Stanley Cup with St. Louis in 2019 and earning the Wayne Gretzky 99 Award as OHL playoff MVP with the Guelph Storm.
- Position
- Forward
- Acquisition Method
- Drafted 21st overall (St. Louis Blues, 2014)
- Current Status
- Unrestricted Free Agent
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Fabbri's path was defined by resilience against severe injury setbacks. After scoring his first career NHL hat-trick on December 28, 2016, in a 6–3 win over the Philadelphia Flyers, he suffered a torn ACL just weeks later against the Pittsburgh Penguins. He underwent surgery in Chicago on February 28, 2016, only to re-injure his left knee during training camp for the 2017–18 season, costing him the entire year. Following another surgery and medical clearance, he signed a one-year contract with the Blues for the 2018–19 season. Despite being reassigned to San Antonio on a conditioning assignment, he returned to the lineup on November 1, 2018, recording an assist against Vegas before scoring his first goal since December 2016 against Carolina. His perseverance culminated in winning the Stanley Cup with St. Louis in 2019.
In Their Own Story
Growing up in Mississauga, Fabbri was inspired by his older brother Lenny to start playing hockey, eventually surpassing him in youth programs like the Minor Atom Mississauga Senators. During the 2014 OHL playoffs with Guelph Storm, he faced a brutal moment when defenceman Yannick Rathgeb hit him from behind, resulting in a 10-game suspension for Fabbri. Despite this, he led the team to their third J. Ross Robertson Cup with 28 points in 16 playoff games. On September 3, 2014, he signed his entry-level contract but returned to Guelph for one final season before suffering an ankle injury at the 2015 World Junior Championships. His professional debut came on October 8, 2015, against Edmonton, where at 19 years and 259 days old, he set a franchise record as the youngest Blues player to score a goal.
Reader's Guide
Fabbri's career highlights specific records for the St. Louis Blues, including being the second youngest player in team history to record a hat-trick after his three-goal performance against Philadelphia. In his rookie season of 2015–16, he tied for third among rookie scorers by February and became the first Blues rookie since Patrik Berglund to reach 15 goals before a cross-check injury from Jack Skille sidelined him for four games. His journey includes being claimed off waivers by the Minnesota Wild later in the 2024–25 season after briefly returning to St. Louis and spending time with the Detroit Red Wings and Anaheim Ducks. He was originally drafted sixth overall by Guelph in 2012, weighing only 150 pounds on draft day before gaining weight for his first professional season.
Did You Know?
- Fabbri was drafted sixth overall by the Guelph Storm in 2012 but weighed only 150 pounds on draft day.
- He became the youngest player in St. Louis Blues history to score a goal during his 2015–16 rookie season.
- Fabbri won the Wayne Gretzky 99 Award as playoff MVP while leading Guelph Storm to an OHL championship.
- After suffering a torn ACL in February 2017, he re-injured the same knee during training camp for the 2017–18 season.
- He recorded his first career NHL hat-trick on December 28, 2016, against the Philadelphia Flyers.