Adam Fantilli Fails To Show For Blue Jackets Event

Is Adam Fantilli putting a little pressure on the Columbus Blue Jackets? With no contract for the coming season as of yet, the restricted free agent's camp and the Jackets continue to sort out their differences over what a new extension would look like. In the meantime, with training camp looming next week, Fantilli has pulled the next move, deciding not to show up for the team's annual pre-camp golfing event. 

#CBJ Adam Fantilli, who remains an unsigned restricted free agent just eight days from the start of training camp, did not take part in the Blue Jackets’ annual pre-camp golf outing today at club owner John P. McConnell’s exclusive golf club, Double Eagle .

— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) September 8, 2026

The event takes place annually at this time of year at Double Eagle, the extremely exclusive private golf club of Blue Jackets owner John P. McConnell.

It's a beautiful day for our annual CBJ Foundation Golf Classic! ⛳️ pic.twitter.com/43iojIm6lT

— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) September 8, 2026

And while "it's a beautiful day for the annual CBJ Golf Classic," many fans are still feeling it would be an even more beautiful day if they just signed Fantilli already. 

In the most recent report, we heard a few days back from insider Elliotte Friedman that the price to get a deal done with the former 3rd overall pick (2023 Draft) has certainly gone up since the recent signings of his fellow Draft Classmates Leo Carlsson and Connor Bedard.

By the way, also of interest, frequently mentioned trade candidate Kirill Marchenko was also absent from the event. He is going into the final year of his contract and has indicated that he will likely not re-sign for the long-term in Columbus. He has spent the latter part of the offseason back home training in Russia, and that seemingly didn't change for this pre-camp event.