Robby Fabbri signed a professional tryout (PTO) contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sept. 17, a day before the team opened training camp.

But the deal wasn’t exactly an 11th-hour entente.

The Penguins and Fabbri made something of a gentleman’s agreement on a PTO that allowed Fabbri to pursue a normal, guaranteed contract with another club throughout July, August and September.

“This (arrangement) was kind of there from the beginning of the summer,” Fabbri said. “We made our decision the last day of where we were going to be. We were hoping for a (normal) contract. Sort of expecting a contract at some point, but we can’t control that. I keep saying, I wanted to be here, and I’m happy to be here. Excited to try and make this team.”

Fabbri took his initial steps in presenting evidence that he should make the team Monday in a 2-1 road shootout loss to the Montreal Canadiens. Opening the contest on the left wing of the third line, Fabbri logged 13 minutes, 51 seconds of ice time on 18 shifts, recorded four shots and even offered some physicality as he was credited with three hits.

“Competing (on) both sides of the puck,” Fabbri said when asked for an autobiographical scouting report. “Creating offense every time I’m on the ice. Hunting down puck, hard on the forecheck, bringing energy to the team when it’s needed, whether it’s a goal or a big goal or a hit. A well-rounded game in that sense.”

That game didn’t get many chances to be displayed last season. As a member of the Anaheim Ducks, Fabbri struggled with injuries.

Knee surgery cost him 12 games throughout November and December, then an ailing hand cost him the final 25 games of the campaign.

“Had a rough start with a few injuries and finished with an injury,” Fabbri said. “Fitted into a different role of a defensive role than I’ve done in my career. But proving that I can play on both sides of the puck is important. At the end of the day, it was just another season.”

A first-round draft pick (No. 21 overall) of the St. Louis Blues in 2014, the 29-year-old Fabbri had far better seasons in the NHL, having reached double-digit goal-scoring figures in seven of his nine campaigns. And he was a member of the 2018-19 Blues club that won the franchise’s only Stanley Cup.

What are his expectations of himself as a player with a first-round draft pedigree?

“Probably the same as you guys (media),” the left-hander said. “I’m hard on myself. I know what I can provide, I know what I can do in this league. I’ve proven it when I’ve played. Just being able to do that for a full season is my expectation.”

Making the roster would be the first step in that endeavor, but that is far from a guarantee for anyone on a PTO, even someone with a respectable resume such as Fabbri.

“For all these guys, every moment of training camp is an opportunity to show something, to get noticed,” coach Dan Muse said. “Guys can do it in a lot of different ways. A guy like Robby, he’s had opportunities now in all these different practices to showcase his game and the way he can impact the game.”

Finding a way to do that isn’t complicated in Fabbri’s estimation.

“I just need to go and do what I’ve done my whole career,” Fabbri said. “Prove that I’ve had a good summer.”

Note: Reserve forwards Mathieu De St. Phalle and Joona Koppanen as well as and defenseman Scooter Brickey missed practice Tuesday because of undisclosed injuries and have been labeled “day-to-day.” Koppanen is signed to a two-way NHL contract, and De St. Phalle and Brickey are under American Hockey League contracts.

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