The Columbus Blue Jackets have a big decision to make when it comes to Adam Fantilli’s next contract. Ideally, they’d want to lock him up long-term—but there’s always a chance he goes the Auston Matthews route and signs a shorter deal to maximize his earnings. General manager Don Waddell can start extension talks at any time. And with Fantilli still a pending restricted free agent, there’s no immediate pressure. But with the cap expected to rise again, there’s always the outside risk of an offer sheet, especially on a player as talented as Fantilli. That’s why Waddell should get ahead of it and start working toward a deal before or during the season. Fantilli will almost certainly become the team’s highest-paid forward, which likely puts his number in the $7 million-plus range. If it’s a max-term deal, that AAV could climb north of $8 million over eight years. Fantilli is going to be the Blue Jackets’ top forward for a long time. Signing him to a long-term deal should be at the top of their list. The good news? He wanted to be drafted by Columbus and still seems happy to be part of the organization. THN Columbus Exclusive - Q&A With Indy Car Driver/Blue Jackets Fan Graham Rahal [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/1cbe1c14-9360-4076-b113-d7cd912f3d7e.webp] THN Columbus Exclusive - Q&A With Indy Car Driver/Blue Jackets Fan Graham Rahal The Columbus Blue Jackets have a ton of loyal fans, but only one can say that he drives a 2.2-liter, twin-turbocharged V6 Indy Car capable of reaching speeds of around 235 MPH. That driver is Graham Rahal, driver of the #15 car for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets/latest-news/thn-columbus-exclusive---q-a-with-indy-car-driver-blue-jackets-fan-graham-rahal] Chinakhov's Agent Reiterates Wish For A Trade [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/419a1335-258e-4b52-9fa5-cb09e5cbf1f2.webp] Chinakhov's Agent Reiterates Wish For A Trade Yegor Chinakhov's agent, Shumi Babaev, reiterated Yegor Chinakhov's position in an <a href="https://bookmaker-ratings.ru/news/agent-chinahova-budem-nadeyat-sya-chto-egor-nachnet-sezon-v-drugoj-komande-nhl/">interview with RB Sport today</a>. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets/latest-news/chinakhov-s-agent-reiterates-wish-for-a-trade] 86 Days Until Opening Night At Nationwide Arena: Kirill Marchenko [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/cc2fac6e-427a-48c0-b84f-b7056c8880fb.webp] 86 Days Until Opening Night At Nationwide Arena: Kirill Marchenko With 86 days to go until opening night at Nationwide Arena, there's only one person to talk about - Kirill Marchenko. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets/latest-news/86-days-until-opening-night-at-nationwide-arena-kirill-marchenko] Where Could Chinakhov Land If Traded? [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/c98e50ea-7ce4-469d-81e7-8ffbf7ee1b75.jpeg] Where Could Chinakhov Land If Traded? Yesterday, the Columbus Blue Jackets fan base was shocked by the news that Yegor Chinakhov is looking for a new place to play. His agent took to social media to explain the situation and the differences between him and the coaching staff. Now it has everyone thinking, where could he end up if traded. So, let's take a look at a few trade destinations that could make sense for Chinakhov. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets/latest-news/where-could-chinakhov-land-if-traded]
