The two Blue Jackets players grew close in their time at Michigan and it should translate to the ice
The two Blue Jackets players grew close in their time at Michigan and it should translate to the ice
Although they only played together for a year at Michigan, Adam Fantilli and Gavin Brindley grew close in their time at Ann Arbor.
When Fantilli signed his entry-level contract last summer, he was allowed to have two witnesses in the room when he signed.
"I saw we were allowed to have two witnesses there and I asked Gavin if he wanted to do it and he was pumped to, so it means a lot to me that his signature is on that paper as well," Fantilli said when speaking to reporters last summer.
Besides their great friendship off the ice, Brindley and Fantilli developed quite a good connection playing together for the Wolverines two seasons ago.
In his only season as a Wolverine, Fantilli was a force where he had 30 goals and 35 assists for 65 points in 37 games played. A Hobey Baker winner, Fantilli led the Wolverines in scoring and total points.
Brindley, who finished fifth on the Wolverines in points, had an impressive freshman campaign as well. Over the course of 39 games, Brindley scored 12 goals and added 26 assists for 38 points in 41 games.
With Brindley having signed his entry-level contract on Monday and made his NHL debut, the focus now shifts to the two making an impact together for the Blue Jackets.
While Fantilli will miss the rest of the season with an injury, squandering the chance Blue Jackets fans have to see them take the ice together this season, they got a glimpse into the future when Brindley arrived in Columbus.
In a video posted to the Blue Jackets Twitter account, Fantilli greeted Brindley with a big hug and a greeting: "I'm so pumped for you man. It'll be unreal."
As Columbus looks to get back on track and compete for a playoff spot next season, Blue Jackets fans can find excitement knowing Fantilli and Brindley will be taking the ice together. If they can recreate what they did at Michigan, other teams will certainly be on notice.
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