While the Columbus Blue Jackets have wrapped up Training Camp and played their first exhibition contest, one player who has not reported is, unfortunately, one of their most important forwards.
Forward Adam Fantilli, who recently wrapped up his entry-level contract, remains a restricted free agent without a contract. This is a worrying sign for the Blue Jackets, who are already dealing with the uncertainty regarding Kirill Marchenko's future with the club, along with the offseason drama involving top defenseman Zach Werenski.
According to NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman, the standoff between Fantilli and the Blue Jackets is holding the franchise back from making other key decisions on players like Marchenko, who is entering the final year of his own respective contract.
“As far as I know, I think there has been some movement, but obviously, it's not done,” Friedman said on his recent '32 Thoughts' podcast via Sportsnet. “They probably need to know Fantilli's number before they make other decisions…..then you can figure out, ‘Okay, where do these other pieces fit?'”
Article Continues Below“You've gotta know what Fantilli's number is before you walk yourself into another salary cap problem.”
Fantilli, whom the Blue Jackets selected in the first round (third overall pick) of the 2023 NHL Draft, made his NHL debut on his 19th birthday in October 2023 and scored his first goal nine days later against the Minnesota Wild. He finished his rookie season with 12 goals and 15 assists in 49 games before a calf laceration ended his season in January 2024.
So far in his NHL career, he's skated in 213 games and scored 67 goals with 73 assists for 140 points, along with 72 penalty minutes.