Wednesday FTB: the player market is warming

Travis Dermott had surgery in the offseason after not getting a contract in July. It's normally a risky move, but there's been an epidemic of players terminating their contracts and free agents getting signed during the first quarter of the season. Dermott is a former Leaf and is practicing up the road in Mississauga. He's also an excellent human. I'd like to see him get him a shot.

After putting this out, I got a note about Robby Fabbri — skating with OHL Windsor after a preseason PTO with Pittsburgh.

18 goals two years ago in DET, sounds like he’s getting closer to an NHL return. https://t.co/32y2CgGGbw
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) November 25, 2025

Robby Fabbri signed a PTO with Pittsburgh. I don't think there's much overall quality left in his game but there are rosters who can make use of a very weak defensive skater who can put the puck in the net. It's not immediately clear to me if Pittsburgh is one of those rosters.
— Micah McCurdy (@hockeyviz.com) 2025-09-18T12:07:25.962Z

This is a few years old.

I do feel compelled to mention though that Travis Dermott is not quite the scrub that folks seem to think; he's still contributing at the second-pair quality that he's done for basically his whole career. pic.twitter.com/UFAjxanadl
— Micah Blake McCurdy (@IneffectiveMath) October 24, 2023

Maybe less so for Robby Fabbri, a C who shoots well but is really bad defensively. Mostly because it looks like Auston Matthews, Matthew Knies, and Nic Roy might all be coming back into the lineup within the next couple games.

Craig Berube says Auston Matthews, Matthew Knies and Nic Roy got through a full practice, which is good, but will have to see about their status for tomorrow. @BodogCA
— David Alter (@dalter) November 25, 2025

Nylander started practice on RW, but appeared to take some reps on LW

Berube: "Gives him a different look. Same as on the PP sometimes coming down his off side, downhill. He just likes to mix it up. I'm good with it ... depends on who his linemates are & what's going on"
— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) November 25, 2025

More practice updates.

Jake McCabe: "I wish my face looked a little prettier every now & then 😃. It's a tough sport, but I embrace that part of it & oftentimes it makes you play better ... My daughter asked me if after this road trip my face will look normal. I said, 'I hope so.' Knock on wood"
— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) November 25, 2025

Piano Man Angry.

Woll: "Sometimes you have periods where the other team is taking it too you a bit. We have periods like that plenty too. Honestly, I was having fun battling out there. Of course, any time you get out of the net I'm not very happy. I thought we still had a chance to come back"
— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) November 25, 2025

The lone game last night was an 8-3 blowout for the Stars against the Oilers.

The @DallasStars win big on the road! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/8mhbrfW2zh
— NHL (@NHL) November 26, 2025

Seven game goal streak for Jason Robertson. One more game with a goal and he ties the longest goal streaks by Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and Connor Brown, among others.