Bags Packed for Two Weeks, Adam Fantilli Finally Gets His Call From Columbus

For two weeks, Adam Fantilli's bags sat by the door of his Michigan home. The call came Thursday morning, and he got on Interstate 75 for Columbus with a new six-year, $82.5 million contract.

That works out to $13.75 million a season, the most on the Blue Jackets' payroll. Fantilli, 21, was a restricted free agent and missed the first week of camp while the sides talked. GM Don Waddell wanted six years; once that was settled, they worked out the annual number. Waddell said he always knew it would get done, he just couldn't say which day.

The comparisons were obvious. The two players drafted ahead of him in 2023 both got five-year deals: Connor Bedard at $15 million a year in Chicago, and Leo Carlsson at $18 million after Anaheim matched a Philadelphia offer sheet.

What Columbus is paying for

Fantilli won the Hobey Baker at Michigan, went third overall, and scored 24 goals and 59 points last year. He's only the third Blue Jacket with two 20-goal seasons before 22. He's expected to center Kirill Marchenko, the team's top scorer with 27 goals, and Valeri Nichushkin, who came over from Colorado.

He sounded more like a veteran than a kid about the stakes. Columbus hasn't made the playoffs since 2020 and has come up just short the last two years, and Fantilli called getting in this season non-negotiable.

He's hoping to play in Saturday's preseason finale in Detroit. The Blue Jackets open against Buffalo on Oct. 1, with Norris Trophy winner Zach Werenski signed for two more seasons.