Category: Sports News

The Charlotte Checkers announced they have signed free agent forward Robby Fabrri to a professional tryout (PTO).

Fabbri attended Pittsburgh Penguins training camp on a PTO but was released after suffering an injury.

The 29-year-old recorded eight goals and 16 points in 44 games with the Anaheim Ducks last season.

Originally a first round selection of the St. Louis Blues in 2014,  Fabbri has 106 goals and 216 points in 442 career NHL games with the Blues, Ducks, and Detroit Red Wings. He won the Stanley Cup with the Blues in 2019. 

The Mississauga, Ont., native has six points in six career AHL games, he last played in the league with the San Antonio Rampage in Oct. 2018.

The Checkers have signed forward Robby Fabbri to a professional tryout (PTO).

➡️https://t.co/5mhKlShCmXpic.twitter.com/5z1zEYjTOW

— Charlotte Checkers (@CheckersHockey) December 1, 2025

A gold medal winner with Team Canada at the 2015 World Junior Championship, Fabbri's offensive ability will be nice boost to an already strong Charlotte team as he looks to work his way back to the NHL.

The Florida Panthers AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers, have signed veteran winger Robby Fabbri to a professional tryout.

The 29-year-old has played in 442 games in the NHL, scoring 106 goals and 216 points. His nine NHL seasons have been spent with the St. Louis Blues, Detroit Red Wings and the Anaheim Ducks. He was originally selected by the Blues in the first round (21st overall) in the 2014 NHL draft. 

Fabbri has little AHL experience, skating in just six games, but the skilled winger has found it increasingly difficult to lock down spots on NHL lineups. Last season with the Ducks, Fabbri scored just eight goals and 16 points in 44 games. 

He's played more than 60 games just twice in his NHL career. Although he hasn't had the individual success many thought he could achieve, he's won at multiple levels. He was part of the Blues' 2019 Stanley Cup win, won gold with Team Canada at the world juniors and won an OHL championship with the Guelph Storm. 

He hasn't played any professional hockey games since pre-season, when he was on a PTO with the Pittsburgh Penguins, so it may take a little while for Fabbri to get his legs under him, but he should be a top-end contributor on the Checkers once he does get back into game shape. 

The Checkers currently sit in fifth place in the Atlantic Division and are just three points back of third place despite playing three fewer games. The Checkers have struggled to score goals this season, and Fabbri should help the team improve offensively. 

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The Winnipeg Jets have yet to confirm whether rookie goaltender Thomas Milic will start Monday night against the Buffalo Sabres as the situation mirrors last week when the team waited until the last moment to announce he would be making his NHL debut.

Milic’s first appearance in the league delivered a mixed but encouraging performance for fans. The 22-year-old from New Westminster, British Columbia stopped 30 of 34 shots and played a significant role in keeping the Jets competitive during difficult stretches. He made eight saves in the first 11 minutes and helped shut down four Carolina power plays throughout the game, showing poise in high-pressure situations.

His debut also included a few rookie moments as one power play opportunity for the Hurricanes resulted from Milic misplaying the puck behind the net, although he recovered and made important stops during the penalty kill. Defensive breakdowns in front of him led to three of the goals against, beginning with the opener when Shayne Gostisbehere carried the puck deep and found Winnipeg-born forward Seth Jarvis uncovered in the high slot. Jarvis released a low wrist shot that slipped past Milic for the game’s first goal.

Traffic in front of the crease remained a problem for Milic and the Jets throughout as the second goal against came in the second period, when Logan Stanley and William Carrier battled for position and Jordan Martinook snapped a shot through a crowd. Minutes later, Jarvis struck again from the high slot, uncovered while Josh Morrissey slightly drifted into Milic’s line of sight as the shot sailed over the rookie’s glove.

Jarvy does it again 👊 pic.twitter.com/I1zbQwyXur

— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) November 29, 2025

All of the goals to that point beat Milic on the glove side, a concern as the Jets prepare for a Sabres team that features elite shooters in Alex Tuch and Tage Thompson. The most troubling moment for Milic came in the final seconds when defenseman Alexander Nikishin fired a point shot from the boards that beat Milic clean on the blocker side.

The Jets hope Milic can build on the experience and deliver a stronger performance if he gets the call against Buffalo. The matchup would typically be considered a step down in difficulty since Milic is coming off a game against the top team in the Eastern Conference. The Sabres, however, have surged with five wins in their last eight outings while averaging 3.63 goals per game during that run, which ranks sixth in the NHL over the same span.

Winnipeg will need to tighten its defensive structure regardless of who starts in goal, but additional support would be especially valuable for a rookie still adjusting to NHL speed. The Sabres and Jets will take center stage as the featured game on Amazon’s Monday Night Hockey.

Jets Aim To Build Momentum Versus Surging SabresThe Jets look to build on their skid-snapping win and regain momentum as they take on a surging Sabres team that has won five of their last eight games.

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The St. Louis Blues have recalled center Aleksanteri Kaskimaki amid injury news to Jimmy Snuggerud and Alexey Toropchenko.

Snuggerud will be re-evaluated in six weeks following surgery to repair his left wrist, and Toropchenko has been given a week-to-week timeline after sustaining scalding burns to his legs in a home accident.

Amidst the injury news, Kaskimaki is earning his first call-up to the NHL and is likely to skate in his first career NHL game. The 21-year-old is participating in his second AHL season with the Springfield Thunderbirds and has scored four goals and seven points in 16 games. 

Kaskimaki is on pace for 17 goals and 30 points in 69 games, which would be in and around his rookie season totals of 11 goals and 34 points in 63 games. 

The Espoo, FIN native skated in three pre-season games this season, scoring a goal in his final outing against the Chicago Blackhawks. 

The Blues host the Anaheim Ducks tonight, and it has yet to be confirmed whether Kaskimaki will be in the lineup. Pius Suter was held out of the lineup with a lower-body injury on Saturday, but his current status is questionable. If he is unable to play, the Blues' third-round pick (73rd overall) in the 2022 NHL Draft will make his NHL debut. 

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After sending Danton Heinen and Tristan Broz to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Sunday, the Pittsburgh Penguins recalled two players from WBS on Monday.

They recalled Rutger McGroarty and Boko Imama ahead of Monday's game against the Philadelphia Flyers. McGroarty has been one of the best players in WBS, compiling four goals and seven points in five games since coming back from an undisclosed injury. 

Imama had a gorgeous goal on a penalty shot this past week and has forechecked really nicely throughout the season. He's also not afraid of being physical and can also bring some snarl to the lineup. 

Boko Imama on the penalty shot with ease😮‍💨@WBSPenguins | #WBSvsHERpic.twitter.com/C2o84NyduZ

— American Hockey League (@TheAHL) November 27, 2025

Both players figure to be in the lineup against one of the Penguins' biggest rivals. 

Puck drop for Monday's contest is set for 7 p.m. ET. 

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