When will Adam Fantilli and the Columbus Blue Jackets come to terms on an extension?
The NHL is within the dog days of the offseason. There are a couple of restricted free agents remaining who still need latest contracts. Entering this offseason many were watching the “Big Three” from the 2023 NHL Draft, Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, and Leo Carlsson.
All were restricted free agents coming out of their entry-level deals and eligible for offer sheets. Nevertheless, there was a catch. Each of those players was waiting for the opposite to set the market. Many figured Bedard was going to go first. No person thought it was going to be Carlsson who set the marketplace for this group of RFAs.
With the Anaheim Geese matching the five-year, $18 million-a-season offer sheet to Leo Carlsson, Connor Bedard signed a five-year, $15 million-a-season deal; the last one to sign a brand new contract is Adam Fantilli of the Columbus Blue Jackets.
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Aaron Portzline of The Athletic joined SiriusXM NHL Network Radio Power Play on Monday and was asked when Adam Fantilli will sign his next deal and what the annual average value will appear to be.
NHLRumors.com Transcriptions
Host: “Well, as we sit immediately, Adam Fantilli continues to be a restricted free agent, obviously a crucial piece of what Columbus desires to be moving forward. Aaron, what does that contract potentially appear to be, and where are we at? It doesn’t feel like there’s a ton of concern on this one; it looks like sooner or later we’re going to get something done, and Fantilli will probably be playing opening night for the Columbus Blue Jackets. But how close are we to getting pen to paper, do you think that, on an Adam Fantilli contract?”
Aaron Portzline: “Yeah, well, that’s the sense that I’ve gotten as well, that it seems inevitable sooner or later here, and I feel with each passing day, the likelihood, the potential of a suggestion sheet seems to fade a bit.
I feel the (Leo) Carlsson offer sheet brought it one direction, where people thought, “Boy, he’s going to receives a commission possibly greater than the early talks were reflecting. I feel (Connor) Bedard brings it back to reality that what Carlsson got isn’t an accurate picture of what those RFAs coming right out of their entry levels are going to get, even the elite players.
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So I think they’re paying somewhere between $13 and $14 million with Fantilli on a five-year deal. I consider that’s what they’re discussing. So yeah, I feel he’s in uniform and in good graces with the team when the season began with the Blue Jackets this yr.”
Given the market and where things are headed, as Portzline noted, the Auston Matthews effect is here, and expectations are that Fantilli will follow Bedard and Carlsson and sign a five-year take care of the Blue Jackets. Nevertheless, most figure Fantilli will catch up with to $14 million on an AAV, not $13 million.
Just like Bedard, when Fantilli does eventually sign his latest deal, he’ll probably say he had no intention of signing a suggestion sheet because if he did, it could have been done by now with Columbus matching any number presented to him.
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