'It Does Not Compute!': Blue Jackets Blasted For 'Unforgivable' Delay In Fantilli Case

Saturday, September 19, 2026
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The Columbus Blue Jackets remain without their top-line center, who is absent from camp as he is still without a contract. And people around the sport are stunned that it's gotten to this point. 

Insider Frank Seravalli has torn into the team for the delay in getting Adam Fantilli signed. Speaking on Sportsnet 590 The Fan, he lambasted the team.
The fact that we’ve gone all summer for a team that, again, is lacking in overall pieces and are willing to enter camp without any real cap crunch at all from getting a deal done. 

Like, it does not compute to me that this file has lingered as long as it has. And I think each day that passes and a deal hasn’t been consummated is like unforgivable for the Columbus Blue Jackets moving forward. 

Get it done!

And if you have to overpay because you’re in Columbus, like, well, what’s it to you? Like, cap space is use or lose. So I’m not really understanding it.

The team currently has $11.7 million in cap space, which actually wouldn't allow them to "get it done" with Fantilli. They'll have to clear out a contract first. 

There was more chaos on opening day of camp, when fiery head coach Rick Bowness blasted two of his charges for showing up out of shape. 

Will Werenski stick around with all the chaos surrounding the Blue Jackets?

The general feeling is, with a delicate situation around Norris Trophy winner Zach Werenski also taking place this offseason, are they willing to upset the balance of the team so early on here? 

Show host Justin Cuthbert said, “Yeah, it’s like Zach Werenski is playing nice in the sandbox, and (yet) you’re gonna mess this up with Adam Fantilli? And have Rick Bowness shoot his mouth off this early? It’s like, you've got to do everything you can to placate Zach Werenski because he should be gone. IIf Zach Werenski is smart, he should get out of there the first chance he gets. And he like, recommitted himself, and it’s like, who are you recommitting yourself to?  

And then there's the Kirill Marchenko situation. He has one year left on his deal, and from everything he said to the media on Friday (being totally evasive), it's pretty clear he will be on his way out.

Blue Jackets are 'deeply unserious': Insider

The final word from Seravalli: 

"I call them deeply unserious is, is the way that I would phrase their operation. And again, it’s not ageism at all, but bringing back a 71-year-old coach who was incredibly critical of the team at the end of the year, and then signing him to a one-year deal. What? So we can get to the other end of this season and then do this all over again? What, like stability, stability, stability? I cannot stress it enough.”

Tough times for the Blue Jackets. They should certainly do all they can to keep Werenski engaged. 

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