The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed Adam Fantilli to a six-year contract after a long summer standoff.
The Columbus Blue Jackets have locked up their most promising young center.
The team announced Thursday that Adam Fantilli has agreed to a six-year, $82.5-million extension ($13.75 million AAV) that will keep him under contract with the franchise until the conclusion of the 2031-32 season.
This deal comes after a long standoff between the team and player that saw Fantilli miss the start of training camp.
"Adam Fantilli has all of the tools you look for in a player – speed, size, skill – along with a competitive drive to succeed," Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell said in a statement. "He is one of the most exciting young players in the NHL and a big part of what we are building in Columbus, so this is a very exciting day for our organization and our fans."
Fantilli was the third-overall pick of the 2023 NHL Draft and made his debut in the following season, recording 12 goals and 27 points in 49 games during his rookie campaign. The Nobleton, Ont., native broke out the following season, tying Kirill Marchenko with a team-high 31 goals while finishing with 54 points in 2024-25.
Across three seasons with the Blue Jackets, Fantilli has put together 140 points in 213 career games.
Before entering the NHL, Fantilli became the third freshman in NCAA history to win the Hobey Baker award after a 30-goal, 65-point season in just 36 games with Michigan back in 2022-23.
On the international stage, Fantilli has won gold with Canada at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championships and the World Championships later that same year.
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