Adam Fantilli's Camp Makes Definitive Statement On His Contract Plans

Adam Fantilli, Blue Jackets center, skates with puck

The Columbus Blue Jackets revealed a couple of weeks back that they were awaiting face-to-face meetings with Adam Fantilli's agent Pat Brisson. The team would like to lock up their rising star for the long term.

But as Aaron Portzline writes in The Athletic, after the first of those conversations, GM Don Waddell says those talks have been shut down. Fantilli isn't interested in discussing any extension at this time, per Waddell.

We’ve had no negotiations at all. I spoke with Brisson last week, and they’re in no hurry from their end. It won’t get done before the season.

The 20-year-old Fantilli had a breakthrough sophomore season with the Blue Jackets, exploding for 31 goals and doubling his points total from his rookie year, with 54. He played all 82 games and registered 113 hits and a plus/minus rating of +4.

After that kind of breakout, Fantilli is obviously willing to bet on an even stronger bargaining position after another big season. Currently, AFP Analytics is already projecting an extension for the exciting 20-year-old to come in at seven years at a $9.5 million AAV. With the cap soaring again next season, he could easily be able to crack the $10M mark as an RFA next summer (though he will not have arbitration rights).

Fantilli was the third overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft by the Blue Jackets.