"What am I talking about"
This is easy. Strome is a year younger, a RFA most importantly and a center. All those things matter in evaluating a players worth. Strome is also a player who demonstrated he can produce 57 points in a 78 games season, Fabbri has not put up 57 points in a season yet, albeit off to a good start this year.
Regarding Strome's production last year, often missed by commentators on here like yourself, Strome had a concussion at the first part of the last season in which he tried playing through and looked awful before finally coming to the team and saying he believes he had a concussion and after medical evaluation found to be true and was out of the lineup. He returned and then had a ankle injury which he struggled with the remainder of the season. That is why his production fell off a cliff.
Regarding not being in the lineup this year, our junior coach is asking the forwards to all play back in the d zone in man coverage and not focus on offense but focus on defense and transition. Obviously, with or without Strome that has not worked for the Hawks and his system is highly criticized by analysts, the media, fans and even discrete not named NHL staff. This is not about Strome not being a good player, it's about our coach and what he wants in his system. Strome obviously is not very good defensively so yes, the thought is the Hawks are looking to trade him, but the rumors are, the Hawks are looking to trade him to someone who will take on Shaw's LITR cap hit as our GM Bowman hates carrying LITR players (Seabs, Hossa, etc). The other speculation in Chicago is Strome is also insurance for Toews to ensure he is able in his return to last and to see what Johnson and Borgstrom offer if anything in the 3C role. Either way, keeping Strome out is asset protection, but for the record, almost all analysts, media, and unnamed NHL staff are baffled by the approach of our coach and GM with Strome as he is a proven .60ppg player in the right system with a transition players on the wings.
Sorry that is lengthy but there is usually more then meets the eyes. As of the start of the season, yes I believe Strome has more value as of now as a RFA. At the TDL it is a different discussion and depending on how each plays during the course of the year. If both were RFAs then it's a no brainer that Fabbri is worth more.